Women's track aiming high in outdoor season

You don't necessarily have to be the best at every event to be a successful track team. The women's track team will have to rely on its strengths—throwing and jumping—if it wants to make up for a lack of strength in other key areas. They will test their talent on Sat., Apr. 8, in a tri-meet against the University of Birmingham, England, and Southern Connecticut.

TED DISKANT/YH

"Our strength lies in throwing and horizontal jumps," Coach Mark Young said. "[Captain] Diane Potkay [PC '00] is very good at shotput, discus and hammer." Melanie Harris, BK '01, and Natasha Bloom, SY '00, are top competitors in the throwing events. Harris is "the best in the league" at the hammer, according to Young. Unfortunately for the Bulldogs, Bloom is out with an injured elbow ligament this weekend, but should return after rehabilitation in time to compete against Penn and Princeton on Sat., Apr. 15.

Jennifer Newsom, JE '01, and Yetsa Tuakli-Wosornu, TD '01, lead the Eli jumpers. Tuakli-Wosornu set a new Yale long jump record during the indoor season, and Newsom placed second at the Women's Indoor Heptagonals. "When they are jumping 19 feet, the one centimeter that separates them is negligible," Young said.

These events, however, are not the only ones that give Yale strength and depth to dominate meets. "We are very solid in the middle distance races, and good at sprints," Young said. "Against different competitors we depend on different events. All around we have a lot to draw from."

Yale will have to capitalize on its upperclassmen leadership. This year's four seniors have provided important guidance and organization to the team on and off the field. The juniors on the team have also proved to be strong leaders.

W. Track

Coming Up: Sat., Apr. 8 vs. University of Birmingham, England and Southern Connecticut.

The Bulldogs will soon take on Ivy competition; after Penn and Princeton next weekend, they will face Harvard on Sat., Apr. 22. Yale should have the upper hand in the Penn-Princeton meet, but will have a tougher challenge against Harvard. "Harvard is probably No. 1 in the league, but we are better in some areas," Young said. "It is always a big rivalry, and depends on who does best that day," Young explained. "Against different teams, we thrive on different events. That day, it will depend on our strength, attitude, and motivation."

Potkay added, "We are a very well rounded team, and go into every meet thinking that we can win." "We have a very talented team this year with a healthy, confident attitude. The three home meets in a row should give us another advantage."

However, the team is still trying to refocus for the short outdoor season. Yale hopes to peak in mid-May for the outdoor Heptagonals—although the cumulative season record is very important, the winner will take all in this final meet of the year. With finals ending before the pinnacle weekend, the Elis will be relaxed, focused, and determined to take it all.

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