MAX GIARUSSO–
Tensions heated up as all the rivalring schools competed in a literal race to first place in Wooster, Ohio.
This past Saturday, Denison’s Track and Field team competed at the Fighting Scots Invitational at Wooster, competing against Wittenberg, Kenyon, Allegheny, Wooster and Oberlin.
Many of Denison’s athletes felt that the team was not at full strength after a long winter break during which several students were unable to train hard due to rough weather and injury.
With multiple athletes not competing as a result of various injuries, the women’s team placed fifth overall at the meet with a score of 55.50 points.
“We were not at full strength, that affected our ranking, but a good number of people PRed so that’s cool. I think we will be able to come back stronger next weekend,” Danni Gutelius ‘21 said, referencing athletes’ accomplishment of setting personal records.
With fewer injured athletes, the men’s team was able to place third overall with a score of 53 points.
Both teams had the pleasure of seeing several athletes return to competition this weekend after a semester abroad. Alec Chin ‘19 returned from his studies in Europe to run the 60 meter dash as well as the 200 meter dash on the men’s team. For the women, Mackenzie Mason ‘19 returned from France to compete in pole vault and Hannah Hall ‘19 came back to place first in the women’s high jump, with a jump of 1.58 meters.
For the men’s team, James Dixie ‘20 jumped 1.71 meters to earn second place in the high jump competition. Meanwhile, in the weight throw spectators saw Arlesha Cospy ‘18 place first with a throw reaching 14.62 meters and Bryce Stricker ‘20 place second with a throw of 15.4 meters.
Several other athletes were able to score points for their team, including David Carter, who came in first place in the men’s triple jump, jumping 13.81 meters, Anna Vrancken ‘21 who placed second in the women’s shot put with a throw of 10.42 meters and Molly Smith ‘21 who came in second place in the women’s 400 meter dash running a time of 1:04:32.
The meet concluded with sophomore Ben Foster ‘20 winning his first 3K of the season, which is a 15 lap race, with a time of 9:13:45.
“It was nice to hit the oval for the first time this season with my teammates, there have been a lot of injuries lately but those who performed today had an excellent showing,” said Foster, a communication and environmental studies double major from Westport, Connecticut.
Denison’s Men and Women’s Track and Field teams trained hard this first week back from break and competed fiercely across the board. After a competitive first meet, the team will be training hard this week to get ready to be back in the blocks again this weekend at the Bob Shannon Invitational right here at Denison’s indoor track.