The University of Rhode Island’s women’s track and field team closed their season with the New England and Eastern College Athletic Championships this past weekend.
The Rams sent 15 athletes to Boston to compete, with some of the athletes beating personal records.
On the first day of the New England Championship, the team placed third out of the 28 competing teams with 26 points. Fifth-year Erynn Field tossed a throw of 17.10 meters on her first attempt to secure a first-place finish in the weight throw. Fourth-year Megan Wood threw a weight throw of 17.00 meters on her last attempt, placing her in second behind Field. Fourth-year Sydney Federico was second in the 500 meter final with a preliminary time of 1:16.49.
Third-year Amyah Santana finished in ninth place at 1:18.75 for the 500 meter run.
In the 1000 meter final, first-year Corina Vidal had a time of 2:57.82 for second place, and Madeline Till, a first-year, came in third at 3:01.31. Second-year Leyla Kvaternik finished sixth with a time of 3:01.36 and third-year Lindsay Turgeon was eighth at 3:01.66.
Second-year Olivia Skapczynki, third-year Erin Hurley and third-year Sofia Piccone finished the 4000 meter distance relay at 12:01.80, coming in second place.
Fourth-year Virsavia Goretoy landed in ninth place in the long jump, leading the team at 5.38 meters on her second jump. Fourth-year Caroline Larkin cleared to 11th place in the pole vault at 3.54 meters on her third attempt.
On day two of the event, the team had an overall total of 113 points, earning them second place. The athletes contributing to the team’s success included second-year Jacqueline Edoro, who landed an 11.61 meter distance on her first jump. Third-year Elise Lepage had a time of 2:18.72, securing fourth place in the 800 meter run. Skapczynski, Hurley, second-year Linsey Arends and second-year Zoe Camtrambone captured first place in the 4×800 meter relay with a record time of 9:20.70.
Wood threw for second place in the shot put due to her second attempted throw reaching 13.96 meters, while first-year Alyssa Yankee tossed a 12.60 meter throw on her first attempt, also landing in second place. Till dashed with 2:56.91 for second place and Vidal ran for 2:58.41 for fourth, followed by Turgeon, who placed fifth at 2:59.37 and Kvaternik in eighth at 3:10.80 in the 1000 meter run.
Goretoy ran for a time of 8.72 seconds in the 60 meter hurdle event for third place. In the 3000 meter race, Piccone led the team with a time of 10:00.86 for fourth place. Daniella Napoli ’21 placed sixth with 10:23.48, and fourth-year Sophia DiMuccio finished with 10:26.57, coming in seventh place. Third-year Sydney Federico ran for third in the 500 meter dash at 1:15.47. Satanana, Edoro and Federico ran a 3:54.26, rushing in fifth in the 4×400 meter relay.
The women’s track and field Head Coach, Laurie Feit-Melnick, who is in her 32nd season, commented about the team’s performance.
“We’ve had two really outstanding days of track and field,” Melnick said. “We’ve had four New England Champions, we had so many personal bests. We had an outstanding two days of competition.”
On day one of the ECAC Championship, the Rams finished 17th out of the 35 competing teams. However, on the final day of the championship and last meet of the season, Wood tossed a personal best record when she threw a 14.35 meter shot put on her last attempt, earning herself a silver medal. Field tossed a weight throw distance of 16.10 meters on her third throw, finishing in sixth place. Second-year Lily Saul ran for second in the 800 meter final at 2:08.03. Saul beat her previous personal best of 2:07.77, earning a silver medal.
“This is my last time competing for the rest of this year because next year I’m redshirting in the spring so that I can have a full year next year,” Wood said. “So I was kinda in the mindset of this is my last one. I might as well go for it.”
Wood’s new personal record offsets the 13.24 meters she earned at the Brown Alden Invite during the ‘21-’22 season.
“I was pretty happy. It was definitely some of the better performances that I’ve had this season,” Wood said. “I haven’t always been the biggest fan of [The TRACK at] New Balance, so I was happy with how I did there.”
Wood also gave her thoughts on the team’s performance.
“It was nice to see how everything we worked for throughout the season resulted in something good like getting a medal or placings at ECACs and New England,” Wood said.
With the women’s team’s indoor season over, they will prepare for the outdoor season.