AZUSA, CA / CAMBRIDGE, MA (April 18, 2026) – Junior
Simi Lawal and sophomore
Arielle Chechile of the Tufts University women's outdoor track & field team were at it again on Saturday, breaking school records and earning top national marks as the Jumbos competed on the final day of the Bryan Clay Invitational at Azusa Pacific University in California.
On Thursday at the Pacific Coast Invitational in Long Beach, Lawal broke her own school record and ran the fastest time in the country for the 100-meter dash (11.66). Chechile's 59.05 in the 400-meter hurdles was also the #1 time in the country and was second all-time at Tufts.
On Saturday in California, Lawal and Chechile both ran times in the 200 meters that were faster than the 36-year old school record, which was a 24.65 held by Tufts legend Vera Stenhouse since 1990. Lawal ran 24.39 today to take over the school record, while Chechile – in her first-ever outdoor 200 - finished with a mark of 24.42 seconds that now ranks second at Tufts. The times give Lawal and Chechile the #13 and #14 national rankings, respectively, as of Saturday evening.
Chechile added to her accomplishments in the 400 meters. She ran 54.30 seconds today at Azusa Pacific to break the school record of 55.21 set by teammate
Makayla Moriarty last year. Chechile's time is #2 in Division III for the 2026 outdoor season as of Friday night. Moriarty was also in the event today and her 57.12 time was a top 50 national mark.
First-year
Lily Simmonds was also in action at Azusa Pacific on Saturday. She finished the 1500 meters in a 4:38.51 time that was her season-best and just outside of the national top 50.
In throwing events at the Bryan Clay Invitational on Saturday, junior
Jackie Wells had a 41.40m (135'10") javelin throw that was her second-best ever. The distance ranks her #14 in DIII right now. Classmate
Ceci LaBarge heaved the shot put 10.35m (33'11 ½") today, her outdoor PR.
Tufts had a large group competing at MIT's Sean Collier Invitational on Saturday as well. Sophomore
Lauren Zipoli placed second out of 26 entries in the 100-meter hurdles with a time of 14.87 seconds. Among other event leaders for the Jumbos was senior
Anne-Sophie Janssen in the 400 meters, whose 58.84 time was a PR. First-year
Sofia Faris went a season-best 10.36m (34'0") in the triple jump for eighth place.
Tufts begins the championship season next weekend (Apr. 25-26) at the NESCAC meet hosted by Williams College. For the first time, the conference championship will be a two-day competition on Saturday and Sunday.
--JUMBOS--
