By Cynthia Retamozo
The women’s track ‘ field team competed at the nationally ranked Hurricane Invitational in Miami Saturday, where the team was led by its field athletes. For several Huskies, Hurricane was the first meet of their outdoor season.
Weather conditions in Boston affected the Huskies’ air travel, as five athletes and two trainers were forced to remain in Massachusetts. With the absence of these trainers, head coach Sherman Hart had to keep some athletes from competing, including junior sprinter Tramaine Shaw.
“I was fairly pleased with the team’s outcome considering it was the first outdoor meet,” he said. “But mother nature won the first round.”
The drastic difference in weather also affected the Huskies’ performance, said sophomore pole vaulter Olivia Kalinowska.
“We did OK, but we could do a lot better,” she said. “We’re not used to the weather in Florida, but I think we’re going to do good this season.”
In the 800-meter, senior Erin Ballard placed seventh with a time of 2:15.46 and senior Natalie Pennicooke placed 11th (2:17.57) in the same event.
Senior Aquila Williams-Judge placed 11th in the 100-meter hurdles (14.65) while freshman Consandria Walker placed 11th in the triple jump (11.44m).
In the pole vault, Kalinowska placed fourth, reaching a height of 3.55 meters and freshman Brooke Borso placed seventh at 3.40 meters. Senior Zara Northover placed fourth in the shot put with a distance of 14.92 meters and later placed ninth in the discus throw with 36.69 meters.
With the opening of the outdoor season came the start of the javelin event. Freshman Nancy Rowe placed fourth with a distance of 39.59 meters and sophomore Colleen Sorensen took fifth, reaching 38.07 meters.
With the javelin throwers’ success at Hurricane, Hart has high hopes and said they will be a key component in winning the outdoor conference championships.
This weekend the Huskies will compete in the Husky Spring Invitational in Dedham, where Ballard hopes for a team tune-up.
“There were complications dispersed throughout the events,” she said about Hurricane. “We hope to get more focused to prepare for conferences.”
