The Hopkins Men’s and Women’s Track and Field teams participated in Boston University’s David Hemery Valentine Invitational this past weekend. The competitive field was filled with numerous D-I teams such as the Georgetown University Hoyas, Yale University Bulldogs, Boston College Eagles and many more. Both teams took advantage of the strong competition and ran some of the fastest times posted in the Centennial Conference this season.
On Friday, the women took to the line. Freshman Felicia Koerner competed in the women’s mile. Crossing the line in 5:09, she ran a gutsy race and held onto the lead pack throughout.
Later in the evening, sophomore Caroline Smith and junior Tess Meehan participated in the 3000 meter, placing third and fourth in their section, respectively. Both women ran personal bests and crossed the line in 9:49 separated by just fractions of a second. The two clocked the third and fourth fastest times in the event in Hopkins history.
Caroline Smith, running the fastest 3000 meter time in the Conference this season and the third fastest time in D-III, was subsequently named the Centennial Conference Runner of the Week. This is the third time she has received this honor during the current winter season.
“Caroline and I are really excited to get some more fast workouts in,” Meehan said. “This will not only help prepare us for the 3K at the end of the season, but will help us try and qualify the DMR at Nationals.”
In the last event of the night, seniors Hannah Oneda and Jordan Delane raced in the 5000m. Delane led the way running a personal best time of 17:39.
“Running in such a competitive heat definitely pushed me to go faster than I have before,” Delane said. She placed 33rd overall and fourth among D-III athletes.
The next morning, the men’s races began. Senior Trevor Holmgren ran the fastest 800m time in the conference this season crossing the line in 1:54. His time placed him in the top 3 all-time 800m performances in the Centennial Conference.
Later, junior Tom Pavarini and freshman Scott Pourshalchi took to the line in the men’s mile. Pavarini ran a strong race clocking a time of 4:19. Meanwhile, Pourshalchi ran the fastest time ever by a Hopkins freshman in the mile, finishing in 4:17.
In the men’s 3000m race, sophomore Brandon Fielder ran the second fastest time in the Centennial Conference thus far in the season. Additionally, his time of 8:32 broke the Hopkins school record, which was held by current junior Stefan Arnold.
In the next two weeks the men’s and women’s track and field teams will be prepping for the Centennial Conference Championship in Collegeville, Pa. hosted by Ursinus College.
“Conferences is an awesome opportunity to PR,” Delane said. “The energy is great and everyone is out there to do their best to help the team win.”
The men hope to win their fourth straight title as the women will look to secure their sixth straight Centennial Conference Championship.
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