The College's men's and women's indoor track and field team put on another solid performance Saturday at the McElligot Invitational at Haverford College.
Improving by leaps and bounds in comparison to last week's meet, the Lions boasted 11 Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Division III qualifying performances, an NCAA provisional qualifying mark and two meet records.
Head coach Eric Mobley continued to emphasize teamwork over individual achievement. "We're definitely improving as a team," Mobley said. "Everybody is starting to really get into a groove."
Senior Jeff Zodda dominated play Saturday, winning his second event in the 400-meter with a time of 50.90, which was not only an ECAC qualifying mark, but also a meet record.
Mobley said he fully expected Zodda to put on performances like this. "Jeff is one of our top athletes, he's a many time All-American, he was runner up in the nation's outdoors in the 800-(meter) and I just continue to see him keep improving as the meets go on," Mobley said.
Senior Brittny Boyd had a huge day, setting a meet record in the 400-meter with a time of 58.50, as well as qualifying for both the ECAC and the NCAA with her time. Boyd also won the 200-meter run with a time of 26.28, an ECAC qualifying mark.
The Lions excelled as a team in the 200-meter, taking second through fifth place behind Boyd. Sophomore Jessica Bonelli took second just behind Boyd with a time of 26.85 and sophomore Carolyn Gray took third in 27.04, both qualifying for the ECAC. Rounding out the pack was senior Tiffany Clark finishing fourth in 27.14 and junior Khristelle Manuyag, taking fifth, with a time of 27.52
Senior Brian Hoffman, a member of the team who Mobley said he expected to put up consistently solid performances, put forth a great effort, winning the pole vault competition with an ECAC qualifying mark of 14 feet.
The Lions have two meets in the upcoming week. They are set to travel to Manhattan for the Armory Collegiate Invitational on Saturday and then come home for a big dual meet against Rider on Sunday.
Mobley hyped the dual meet at Rider. "It's defnitely one of the meets we look forward to and kids really get up for competing," he said. "You'll see a lot of great performances at the dual meets."
