CAMBRIDGE - Sophomore Kelly Allen (Norton, MA) won the New England Division III Women's Indoor Track & Field title in the shot put with an NCAA provisional qualifying distance on Saturday at MIT. The Jumbo 4x400 meter relay also won, with both firsts leading Tufts to 78 points for a third-place team finish.
Allen's 41'11 1/2" (12.79m) shot was a foot better than second place Sara Ellen Godek from Bates. The distance was also an inch and a half further than the 41'10" (12.75m) provisional qualifying mark. Allen scored 15 points for the Jumbos overall, including fifth place in the weight throw with a 51'7" (15.72m) mark. The Jumbos scored 14 points in the shot put, as junior Ronke Oyekunle (Harvard, MA) took fifth place at 39'8 1/2" (12.10m).
The Jumbos were indoor 4x4 champs at the New England Division III meet for the second straight year. The Tufts team of sophomore Sam Bissonnette (Bridgewater, MA), sophomore Alyssa Corrigan (Wellesley, MA), junior Dayorsha Collins (Boston, MA) and first year Jana Hieber (Goffstown, NH) were almost two seconds faster than MIT with their 4:03.34 winning time.
NCAA veterans Amy Wilfert (Westborough, MA) and Nakeisha Jones (Boston, MA) both improved their national qualifying marks. Wilfert ran a 5:01.47 mile for fourth place at the meet, which ranked 16th nationally as of Saturday night. She doubled in the 3,000 meters, finishing in 10:09.17 for third place. Jones was the runner-up in the triple jump with a distance of 38'0" flat (11.58m). Tufts had 12 points in that event along with the four for fifth place (36'6 1/4" - 11.13m) from senior tri-captain Kanku Kabongo (Abington, MA). Kabongo was also the runner-up in the long jump, reaching 17'8 1/4" (5.39m).
Bissonnette also led off the 4x200 meter relay that finished fourth (1:48.57). She was followed by first year Colleen Flanagan (Boxborough, MA), sophomore Kaylee Maykranz (Jackson, WY) and Hieber. In the pole vault, junior Heather Theiss (North Woodmere, NY) added fifth-place points with 11'5 3/4" (3.5m) clearance, matching her own school record.
Jumbos also scored in the pentathlon, high jump, distance medley relay and 600 meters.
Coach Kristen Morwick's team competes at the All-New England Championships next weekend at BU.
Championship Results
#
