Women capture NEWMAC first place honors for third straight time; men finish fourth, as teams combine to shatter eight conference records

April 28, 2001

The Wheaton College men's and women's track teams turned in outstanding performances at the 2001 New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) Championships held at WPI's Alumni Field. The Lyon women captured victories in 11 of 20 events while breaking four league marks en route to an overwhelming 115 point win, while the men shattered four conference records with six first-place marks while finishing in fourth place with 124 points.

Wheaton has won all three NEWMAC Women's Track & Field Championships ('99, '00, '01) and has been victorious in five of the last six conference championships, including the 1996 and 1998 NEW-8 titles. The Lyons broke NEWMAC records in the 100 meter dash, 200 meter dash, 100 meter high hurdles and 4x100 meter relay race. Recipients of those holders include freshmen Kim Jones (Glen Arden, MD/Eleanor Roosevelt H.S.) in the 100 (11.84) and Amber James (Woodbury, MN/Woodbury H.S.) in the 200 (24.86) and senior Tenille Johnson (Baltimore, MD/Southwestern H.S.) in the 100 HH (14.65), all of which met NCAA national meet automatic qualifying standards. The Wheaton women also hold the fastest time in the 4x100 meter relay race with an NCAA provisional time of 48.54, which consisted of James, Johnson, Jones and junior All-American Colleen Burch (Leicester, MA/Leicester H.S.).

James, Johnson and Jones each recorded multiple-victories on the day, with James in the 400 meter dash (58.20, provisional), Johnson in the 400 meter low hurdles (1:03.42, automatic) and Jones in the long jump (17' 6 1/4"). Additionally, Burch sided with sophomore Noreen Kordzeil (Chittenango, NY) and freshmen Kim Spence (Dover, NH/Dover H.S.) and Stephanie Danella (Piscataway, NJ) in their 4x400 meter relay race triumph. Other top honors earned were juniors Niara Woods (Philadelphia, PA/Simon Gratz H.S.) in the 800 meter run, Kate Getz (Cumberland, ME) in the high jump and Shimera Daniels (Long Island, NY/Brentwood H.S.) in the triple jump.

The men were equally as impressive individually, as first-year athlete Lance Wagner (Beverly, MA) led the charge with a pair of conference records in the 100 meter dash (10.72) and 200 meter dash (22.06). His time in the 100 M sprint was good enough for a school record and NCAA national provisional qualifying mark. Other record setters for the Wheaton men included freshman Erik Benson (Southbury, CT) in the 400 meter dash (48.88) and the 4x100 meter relay team (43.09), comprised of Wagner, senior Rob Tyson (New Haven, CT/Northfield Mount Herman H.S.), junior Rahiem Greenridge (Wyandanch, NY/Wyandanch H.S.) and first-year athlete Tyrone McClain (New Haven, CT/Hillhouse H.S.). Tyson picked up top honors in the long jump, while junior All-American Ray Smith (Providence, RI/E. Providence H.S.) gained a first-place finish in the triple jump.

Greenridge was second in the 100 meter dash (10.82, provisional), while McClain placed third in the 100 and fourth in the 200. Tyson went third in the 200 M dash and Smith second to Tyson in the long jump. Freshman distance runner Peter Cahalane (N. Andover, MA) broke a Wheaton mark in the 5,000 meter run in a time of 15.21:82, while first-year athlete Ben Vik (Tyngsboro, MA/Tyngsboro H.S.) contributed with a second-place standing in the pole vault (14' 8 3/4") and junior Nash Oven (Framingham, MA/Framingham H.S.) third overall in the javelin.

Men's Results: (1) MIT 237.5; (2) Springfield College 181; (3) Coast Guard Academy 146.5; (4) Wheaton College 124; (5) WPI 53; (6) Babson College 23.

Women's Results: (1) Wheaton College 247.5; (2) MIT 132.5; (3) Springfield College 107; (4) Mount Holyoke College 88; (5) WPI 66.5; (6) Coast Guard Academy 62.5; (7) Smith College 51; (8) Babson College 18.

Last updated on 5/11/01.
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