Blue Jays experienced a moment of euphoria, capturing their fourth NCAA championship in just five years. Nothing can quite top the excitement of a national title for the women coupled with a program-best eighth place finish for the men.
However, these Jays were not about to put their feet up and watch football for the rest of Thanksgiving break.
Just two weeks later, the Jays lined up for their first race of the indoor track season at Franklin & Marshall College’s Diplomat Open this past Saturday, Dec 4. Unsurprisingly, the Jays seamlessly transferred their success from the dirt trails onto the track.
Sophomore Erin Brush explained the purpose of racing so early in the season.
“The goal for the first meet is to get everyone back on the track,” Brush said. “We are not concerned with trying to qualify for Nationals at this point, but we have a lot of runners end up with fast times because they are in great shape from cross country season.”
To start with, after claiming her first NCAA title and All-American honors, sophomore Felicia Koerner made her debut on the track. Koerner not only won the 5,000-meter run but was lapping the competition. Winning by over 30 seconds and clocking in at 16:56, she is now leading the nation in the event.
Also receiving an individual title was junior Jenn Su, who won both the long jump and the 60-meter hurdles. In the process, Su broke the Hopkins long jump record, leaping 5.43 m to victory. Not to mention, Su placed third in her third event of the day, throwing the shot put 11.75 meters.
As a result of their victories, the two Jays, Koerner and Su, were named the Centennial Conference Women’s Indoor Track & Field Athletes of the Week.
The Blue Jays would dominate the distance events, thanks to their lucrative training throughout the cross country season. Adding to the field of talent in the 5k, the Jays placed six more runners in the top 10 behind Koerner. Notably, her classmate, sophomore Natalia LaSpada, also a first time All-American this cross country season, finished in second, topping her previous personal record by nearly 50 seconds.
The remarkable depth this team showed did not stop there. In the 3,000 m the Jays placed six runners in the top seven, led by freshman Rebecca Grusby, who crossed the line in 10:24.59 to take second.
Meanwhile, the mid-distance group was led by Brush in the mile run. Brush had a close second place finish less than three seconds behind Dickinson College’s first place runner, Adriana Frayne-Reixa. Brush explained the benefits of competing prior to the bulk of their winter season training, which will take place over intersession.
“It is a good indicator for where everyone’s training is at and ends up being really motivating for winter training,” Brush said.
Accompanying the women on the track, the Hopkins men were equally as impressive early in the season. In the sprints, three Blue Jays tied for third in the 60 m dash and senior Jesse Poore earned a third place finish in the 200 m dash, clocking 22.97. The middle-distance group also had a noteworthy showing in the mile run taking second through fourth place.
However, it was the distance group that once again outdid the competition. Sophomore Scott Pourshalchi led the Jays in the 3,000 m run, where the Jays placed six runners in the top nine. Behind Pourshalchi, who took second, was junior Leo Potters in third and sophomore Giacomo Taylor in fifth.
After a historic cross country season in which the men had their best finish ever in a NCAA Championship, the Jays dominated the rest of the competition in the 5k. Fourteen of the first 16 finishers to cross the line were wearing the black and blue. Junior Louis Levine led the pack of Jays and took the individual title in the event finishing in 15:33.57.
Furthermore, the men had some outstanding performances in the field events as well. Senior Andrew Bartnett won the pole vault, finishing 0.80 m higher than the next vaulter. Bartnett was named the Centennial Conference Men’s Indoor Field Athlete of the Week. Meanwhile, freshman Matthew Su broke the Hopkins record in the long jump, posting a distance of 12.12 m for second place.
The Blue Jays will get some time to rest until their next race this season. Their next meet will be on Jan. 21 at the Maryland Invite in College Park.
