Olson makes it a perfect three for three in high jump at Tufts Invitational II; Several women's track and field athletes post provisional marks

January 24, 2004

MEDFORD, MA- Junior Dan Olson (Voorheesville, NY/Albany Academy) continued his winning ways at the Tufts University Invitational II Saturday afternoon, leading the Wheaton College men's track and field team in the non-scoring meet with his third straight individual title in the high jump. The women in turn boasted several NCAA Division III national meet provisional qualifying marks at the Gantcher Family Sports & Convocation Center.

For the third straight week, Olson not only topped the competition but also recorded an NCAA Division III national meet automatic qualifying jump. Today's performance marked the third consecutive time that Olson has cleared 7' 1". Sticking with the field events, first-year Ryan Fitzgerald (Newport, RI/Rogers) finished fifth in his flight in the weight throw and sixth in the shot put.

Sophomore Ajay Sisodia (Andover, MA/Andover) highlighted the track events in the finals of the 55-meter dash, as he sprinted to the top finish with a time of 6.59. Freshmen Thomas Simmons (New Bedford, MA) and John Dunn (Little Compton, RI) placed fourth and eighth, respectively in the event. Junior Adam Walker (Westfield, NJ/Westfield) was impressive in the 200-meter dash, finishing first in his section and in the process posting the fastest time of the afternoon in 22.89. He also stood fifth overall in his 400-meter dash section with a time of 52.79.

Rounding out Wheaton's strong performances was junior Jamaal Rawls-Payton (Stoughton, MA/Stoughton), who advanced to the finals of the 55-meter dash event, finishing seventh overall in 8.18. The Lyons' 4x200-meter relay team, comprised of Sisodia, Dunn, Walker and freshman Jonathan Geffrard (Brooklyn, NY) placed second to the University of Massachusetts with a time of 1:32.19.

On the women's side, senior Amber James (Woodbury, MN/Woodbury) and sophomore Aspen James (Woodbury, MN/Woodbury) went one, two in the finals of the 55-meter dash, as each posted national meet provisional qualifying times of 7.26 and 7.32, respectively. Amber James was also clocked with the fastest time in the 200-meter dash at 25.45, topping Aspen and teammate Alison Amendola (Franklin, MA/Franklin). Senior Kim Spence (Barrington, NH/Dover) was just over a second short of shattering Wheaton's record in the 1000-meter run with a time of 3:06.72, while the Lyons' 4x200-meter relay team, consisting of the James' sisters, Amendola and junior Jessica Allegra (E. Hampton, CT/E. Hampton) rounded out the meet's fastest times with a first-place finish of 1:44.38.

Wheaton was just as solid in the field events, especially in the high jump and pole vault competition. Junior Kathrine Wallace (Glenmoore, PA/The Hill School) and freshmen Crystal Blamy (Walpole, NH/Fall Mountain View) and Jennifer Harlow (East Bridgewater, MA/East Bridgewater) placed one, two and three in the high jump, with Wallace and Blamy surpassing the provisional qualifying standard with 5' 6" performances. Sophomore Noelle Battista (Warwick, RI/Toll Gate) also reached a provisional mark in the pole vault, placing first overall with a 12' vault.

Complete Results

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