By Joyce Novacek

Writer

Laura Rycek ’11 led the way with a gold in the javelin as the women’s track and field team finished third out of the 40 teams at the William and Mary Colonial Relays. The Bison posted a team score of 59 points.

“As for the team as a whole, we have always been a strong outdoor team, and I look forward to seeing how well everyone does this year,” Rycek said. “Our team has an energy that I love. Everyone supports each other, and that is so important.”

In the throws, the Orange and Blue had much success in the javelin, with three throwers earning points for the team. Rycek took the gold with a throw of 142 feet and 10 inches, Kat Folger ’12 took fourth, and Tayler Siegrist ’13 finished eighth. Rebecca Misko ’12 took sixth in the discus and Kathryn Wahls ’13 earned sixth in the hammer throw.

Multiple Bison distance runners also earned points for the team, with three Bison placing in the 10,000-meters. Alaina Chodoff ’11, Melissa Smith ’12 and Eileen Foley ’11 earned third through fifth place, in that order. In the 3,000-meter run, Sarah Moniz ’11 and Alysha Hooper ’12 finished third and fifth, respectively.

Three Bison pole vaulters, Emily Ando ’14, Autumn Schellenberger ’14 and Rebecca Frey ’11 each cleared 10 feet 8 inches to tie for ninth at the meet.

This third-place finish is the highest place the Bison have earned at the Colonial Relays since they began regularly competing at the meet in Williamsburg, Va. three years ago. Their previous best finish was in 2009, when they finished fifth overall. The only teams to finish ahead of the Bison this year were first-place Villanova who scored 116.2 points and second-place Duquesne who scored 62 points.

The Bison are back in action April 15-16, when the men and women’s teams will host the Bison Outdoor Classic at Christy Mathewson-Memorial Stadium for their first home outdoor meet of the season.