Wheaton track and field gives strong opening performance at national meet

March 12, 2004

After the first day of competition at the NCAA Division III Championships held at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, Wheaton's men's and women's indoor track and field teams were optimistic for a solid showing at the national event.

Seven members of the women's track and field squad and a program-best six student-athletes on the men's side traveled to Wisconsin for the national meet. Senior Amber James (Woodbury, MN/Woodbury), 14-time national champion and 17-time All-America performer, advanced to Saturday's final in the 400-meter dash with a time of 56.76, bettering the former field house record. Junior Jessica Allegra (East Hampton, CT/East Hampton) in her first outing in the 400-meter dash, finished third in her heat with a time of 58.76. Senior Kathrine Wallace (Glenmoore, PA/The Hill School), finished twelfth in the high jump with a leap of 5' 3"1/4 while first-year Crystal Blamy (Walpole, NH/Fall Mountain Regional) added critical points by clearing a height of 5'5 1/4" in the high jump event, good for sixth place.

Sophomore Aspen James (Woodbury, MN/Woodbury) blazed to a third place in the trials of the 55-meter dash with a time of 7.13, bettering the former field house record. Both Aspen and Amber James advanced to Saturday's final in the 55, Amber with a time of 7.23.

Also advancing to Saturday's finals are freshman Alison Amendola (Franklin, MA/Franklin) who joined Amber James, Wallace and Allegra in the 4x400-meter relay. The foursome ran the trials in a time of 3:55.18.

On the men's side, sophomore Ajay Sisodia (Andover, MA/Andover) finished eighth in the trials of the 400-meter dash with a time of 49.14, advancing to Saturday's final, while three-time NCAA All-America athlete senior Erik Benson (Southbury, CT/Pomperaug) finished tenth in the final, with a time of 49.59.

Benson and Sisodia also ran a leg on Wheaton's 4x400-meter relay team, along with juniors Patrick Freytag (Pittsford, NY/McQuaid Jesuit) and Adam Walker (Westfield, NJ/Westfield), finishing in 3:18.79, in preparation for Saturday's final.

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