MEDFORD, MA (March 7, 2026) – Tufts University junior
Simisola Lawal broke the school record in the 60-meter dash with a blistering time of 7.48 seconds as the Jumbo women's indoor track & field team hosted the Tufts Final Qualifier on Saturday at the Gantcher Center.
Running in the finals of the event, Lawal's 7.48 mark erases the 10-year old school record of 7.55 seconds held by Alexis Harrison from 2016. The mark is also tied for sixth all-time in Division III.
Lawal's time today also raises her national ranking in the event up to #2. Entering the day ranked 10th nationally, she was already in a good position to earn one of the 20 NCAA berths available in individual events. Now it's certain.
Sophomore
Makayla Moriarty put herself into contention for an NCAA berth with her converted time of 56.12 seconds (flat track to banked track) in the 400 meters today. Her indoor PR, it ranks 18th nationally which as of Sunday evening puts her among the 20 to earn berths in the event.
The Jumbos had two solid relay performances today, but neither is likely to earn a national berth. Both the distance medley relay and the 4x400-meter relay posted marks that rank 21st nationally. The top 12 relays will earn NCAA berths. Tufts' DMR of first-year Lilly Simmonds, senior
Anne-Sophie Janssen, first-year
Kayleigh Forde and sophomore
Arielle Chechile posted a converted 11:42.57 time. The 4x4 of first-year
Cori Stewart, Moriarty, Janssen and Chechile had a 3:49.15 converted mark.
Junior
Ceci LaBarge had a good day in the throws, recording PRs in both the shot put and weight throw. Her weight throw of 16.47m (54'0 ½") earned a spot in the national top 50 as of Saturday evening. Her shot put PR was a 10.96m (35'11 ½") heave.
Other Tufts PRs recorded today were by sophomore
Lauren Zipoli in the long jump (5.44m – 17'10 ¼"), senior
Lexi Dean in the mile run (5:08.87 not converted) and first-year Lauren downer in the 400 meters (1:00.49 not converted).
GoTuftsJumbos.com will announce the NCAA berths earned by the Jumbos on Sunday.
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