The track team was in a New York state of mind last weekend, with successful showings at the New Balance Invitational at the Armory in Manhattan and the Villanova Invitational on Staten Island as well as multiple Leopards making moves up Lafayette’s best time rankings.
Senior Devin Smith headlined the Villanova meet, winning the 400 meter sprint with her fastest indoor time of the season, a 55.47. Her time was also the second-fastest time posted in the Patriot League this winter. For her performance, she was named the Patriot League Track Athlete of the Week for the second time this season.
“It was a good feeling. I’m happy I ran fast,” Smith said. “I want to run faster, and I know I can. It was cool to be first but it was just another stepping stone.”
Smith hopes to continue to improve on her time as the Patriot League Championship meet is in less than two weeks. Her time in the Villanova Invitational was just 0.4 seconds off her personal record.
Individually, Smith has qualified for both the Patriot League and ECAC playoff meets in the 400 meter. She hopes for the relay team with teammates Erin Keen, Drew Davis and Kelly Reager, who combined to placed fifth with a time of 3:52.98, to see similar success. The time was the sixth fastest in Lafayette history.
“Hopefully at the Patriot Leagues we will qualify [for the ECAC] in the 4×400 meter. That’s our goal,” Smith said.
Senior Jarrell Bobb achieved a personal record in the 200-meter with a fifth place finish. The senior also placed fifth in the long jump, only his second long jump of the indoor season.
Bobb, who was the only member of the men’s team to attend the meet in Staten Island, echoes Smith’s desire to improve upon his success this past weekend.
“I’m trying to be the best me I can be,” Bobb said. “I think I have a good chance of doing well in both the 400 meter and 200 meter, as well as bringing a championship in the long jump.”
Senior Thomas Day also had a great day for the Leopards at the Armory, running a career best in the 3000 meter. He finished seventh of 21 runners and posted the 10th-fastest 3000 meter in indoor program history.
Senior Amelia Ayers also turned in a PR at the meet, running a 2:21.63 in the 800 meters for a 43rd place finish.
For Bobb, the impressive showings this season for him and others on the team are a culmination of their years in the track and field program. Bobb and Smith, both seniors, look forward both to the finale of their final indoor seasons as well as their last spring track season.
“I think [the indoor season] has prepared me well, but I also think that the previous three years have definitely played a much larger role in preparing me for senior year as a whole,” Bobb said. “Senior year is kind of where I put it all together. I think I’m prepared to go into the indoor championships as well as the outdoor seasons knowing all I’ve learned from the previous three years.”
The team will finish off the indoor season with two meets next weekend, another in Staten Island at the Manhattan Invite and one in New Jersey at the Monmouth Invite. The following weekend, those who have qualified will compete in the Patriot League Indoor Championships. From there, those who qualify for the ECAC Championship will attend the meet in Boston during the first weekend of March.
“I feel prepared,” Smith said. “The coaches have done a really good job with the training for the whole team. I feel prepared and everyone looks pretty good.”