NEW HAVEN, Conn. –– On Saturday, the Yale women's track and field team opened its 2019–20 season with solid performances across the board. While the meet had no official team scores, from the high jump to the 60 meter dash to the women's 4x400 meter relay, the Bulldogs dominated their first home meet of the indoor track season.
Alladia Patterson kicked off the day for Yale, winning the shot put with a throw of 13.17 meters. Her teammate Emma Vasen, who placed third in the shot put, took home the title in the weight throw with a winning toss of 15.66 meters. This throw placed her more than a meter farther than the rest of the field, who all threw well under 15 meters. In the women's high jump, first-year Abrianna Barrett made her Yale debut with a third-place finish and a jump of 1.68 meters, while seniors Elizabeth Adelson and Olivia Mooney also jumped 1.68 meters for fourth and fifth places, respectively.
Junior Erin Gerardo helped Yale claim yet another win on Saturday, finishing first in the pole vault with a jump of 3.80 meters, while first year Sydney Kunkler finished fourth in the long jump in her first competition for the Bulldogs.
In addition to nearly sweeping the throwing and jumping events, Yale took home multiple first-place finishes on the track as well.
Lillian Enes won the 60 meter dash, with Ava Thomas clinching third place, while both Aliya Boshnak and Libby McMahon qualified for the finals and posted strong finishes. These finishes are especially impressive considering most of these athletes currently focus on longer distances such as the 200 and 400 meters.
As the Bulldogs' sole distance runner representative, Abigail Long competed in the mile after coming back from an injury which kept her sidelined for cross country. Long ran a consistent race and finished sixth overall. Finally, Yale's Sophie Isom closed out the individual races for the Bulldogs with a win in the 200 meter dash and a new personal best of 25.06 seconds.
In the 4x400 meter relay, Yale entered five teams to begin prepping the women for later relays this winter and spring. The Bulldogs took the top four spots and all set the tone for what is sure to be one of Yale track and field's most competitive seasons in recent years.
