Cross Country looks forward to season ahead at UMass Dartmouth Invitational

Photo courtesy of Mount Holyoke Athletics.
Lauren Selkin ’23 won the Women’s Varsity 5K at the Sept. 17 UMass Dartmouth Invitational.

By Lauren Leese ’23

Staff Writer

Mount Holyoke Cross Country, led by Lauren Selkin ’23, rallied to 10th place overall out of 38 teams at the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth Cross Country Invitational on Saturday, Sept. 17.

Selkin, who qualified for the National Collegiate Athletic Association Division III Cross Country National Championship in 2021, took first place in the Women’s Varsity 5K with a time of 17:49.3. Following an overall victory at the Wellesley College Invitational on Sept. 2, this race marked Selkin’s second-consecutive win of the year and the fourth first-place title of Selkin’s collegiate cross country career. On Sept. 19, Selkin was named the New England Women’s and Men’s Athletic Conference Women’s Cross Country Runner of the Week.

“I managed to stick to my game plan and felt very confident and comfortable throughout the entire race,” Selkin said. “I love competing and always look forward to each of the races throughout the season.” Looking to the future, Selkin hopes to qualify for the NCAA National Championship again in 2022 and garner NCAA All-American athlete honors.

Tessa Lancaster ’25 was the second Mount Holyoke runner over the line, taking 35th place overall with a time of 18:54.1. Next for the Lyons, Bridget Hall ’24 ran a time of 19:33.6, placing 73rd. Greta Trapp ’25 took 102nd with a time of 19:59.9 and Kim Beaver ’25 earned a time of 20:37.5 and placed 149th.

This relatively large group of Mount Holyoke athletes competing in the varsity 5K was notable for the team. “Only [Selkin] and [Lancaster] had run the varsity race before,” Head Track and Field and Cross Country Coach Jennifer “Jay” Hartshorn said. “Given the fact that it was a new experience [for] so many athletes on the team, they stepped up.”

In the Women’s 5K Junior Varsity race, Amanda Kearney ’23 finished the course with a time of 22:42.2, taking 66th place. Emma Quirk ’26 came 82nd with a time of 23:39.0 and Eliza Butler ’23 ran a 24:20.50 to place 93rd.

“I felt pretty controlled during my race,” Butler said. Speaking of the season to come, she added, “I’m most looking forward to our future races. … I’d love the team to qualify for regionals again.”

Hartshorn also indicated that the team already has its sights on the NCAA Championship. “The season is really about building to the end of the year. Hopefully we can gain confidence through the season and feel ready going into the championships,” she said.

This meet followed a change of coach for the cross country team. “We have been just getting to know each other for the past month,” Hartshorn said. “Having a new coach can be hard for a team, so I appreciate their ability to adapt to my style. I feel really excited and blessed to be a part of this community. “

Next, the Lyons will head to Williamstown to compete in the Purple Valley Classic on Oct. 1, 2022.

Editor’s Note: Emma Quirk ’26 is a staff member of the Mount Holyoke News.

Game of the Week: Track and Field finishes regular season

Photo courtesy of Mount Holyoke College Athletics.
Abby Elliott ’25 focuses while doing the javelin throw at the Jerry Gravel Invitational on April 16.

By Gigi Picard ’22

Sports Editor

Mount Holyoke Track and Field finished their regular season at Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s Sean Collier Invitational on Saturday, April 23. 

Emma Doyle ’23 placed 12th in the discus throw with a season best of 31.07 meters. Doyle’s throw was the eighth best in Mount Holyoke Track and Field history. In the shot put, Doyle set a personal best at a 10.75 meter mark, landing eighth place overall with a sixth-place ranking in the Mount Holyoke program’s history.

On the javelin front, Allyson Joseph ’24 finished 13th at 22.78 meters, while Abby Elliott ’25 placed 20th at 16.48 meters.

“I felt pretty good about my performance and did much better than I expected,” Elliott said. “I think the team's attitude right now is very determined on giving it our all. I think a lot of us really are proud of ourselves and our performance in our last meet.”

On the track, Emily Hood ’24’s 3000-meter steeplechase landed her in third place with a time of 12:40.57 minutes. Hood’s finish was the seventh-fastest time for the event in the team’s history.

Tessa Lancaster ’25 finished fourth in the 1500-meter run, posting a time of 4:56.41 minutes, which is the eighth-fastest time in Mount Holyoke’s history. Sydney Nash ’22 earned a season best, finishing seventh in 5:12.25 minutes. 

In the 400-meter dash, Simone Jacob ’22 placed eighth, claiming a personal best and the sixth-fastest program time with 1:01.72 minutes. 

“Coming off of a [personal record] this week is a great way to go into our championship meet feeling confident but also rested,” Jacob said. “We are super excited to go into the championship season and put all of our hard work over the last months towards showing the other schools in the [New England Women’s and Men’s Conference] what we can do as a team.”

Leah Pendl-Robinson ’22 earned a top-20 time in the 100-meter dash, running the event in 14.61 seconds after missing most of the track and field season due to an injury. 

“I felt a bit bummed about the season since I was out of commission for most of it, but now that I have been back for a couple of meets and weeks of practice I feel like I have a spark again inside me ready to compete,” Pendl-Robinson said. “I’m extra excited for what’s to come.”

“It is also my senior year and now that it is coming to a close I realize how much I will miss competing with the team and having those early morning practices with all my friends,” Pendl-Robinson continued. “I just want to thank everyone who has helped me along my recovery journey for my injury and … helped me to come back in the last few meets of my [undergraduate] athletic career.”

Lauren Selkin ’23 ran the 800-meter race and placed fourth with a time of 2:24.99 minutes. Despite it not being her usual event, her time is the ninth fastest in Mount Holyoke Track and Field history.

“I’m more of a distance runner, but it was fun to run and [root] my teammates on. I’m looking forward to the upcoming championship season. … I’m super excited to be part of the intense competition,” Selkin said.

Addison Heintz ’25 finished 12th in the 200-meter dash with a season-best time of 27.93 seconds. 

“I am feeling good about my performance so far this season. … The season has been rewarding, it has been great to look back and see how much I improved and how much the team has improved as well,” Heintz said.

Track and Field finished the invite with the 4x400 meter relay run, where Kim Beaver ’25, Greta Trapp ’25, Jacob and Lancaster came in second place. With a time of 4:17.99 minutes, the relay team ran the eighth-fastest time in the program’s history.

“I am happy with the overall team performance from this past weekend. There were numerous [personal records] and season bests,” Track and Field’s Assistant Coach Alex Rachmaciej said. 

On Saturday, April 30, the Lyons will travel to Smith College for the New England Women’s and Men’s Athletic Conference championship meet. 

“Prep for championships looks like more rest for the athletes. This part of the season, we keep the intensity high and volume low so the athletes feel good going into the meets,” Rachmaciej stated. 

The official season end for Track and Field will be the three-day NCAA Division III Championships in Geneva, Ohio from May 26-28.

Rachmaciej said that, “Takeaways we had for the season are that some of the areas that we lacked in the past are turning around and the team is becoming more well-rounded.”