Amherst, MA - The Williams Women's Track and Field team continued their outdoor season with a strong showing at the UMass Lafreniere Commonwealth Invitational on April 13th, 2025. The meet featured competition from all three NCAA divisions – including athletes from Tufts, UMass Amherst, University of Vermont, and Middlebury. Despite chilly conditions, the Ephs secured numerous personal bests and DIII New England qualifying marks at the invitational.
The Ephs opened the day with impressive performances in the field events. In the high jump, Amelie Jamanka '26 cleared 1.56m to place third and qualify for DIII New Englands. Aurora Lewis '28, in her collegiate debut in the high jump, finished in 8th place with a mark of 1.46 meters. In the pole vault, school record holder Ellie Fitzgerald '26 vaulted 3.67m for eighth place, followed by Poppy Miller '25 and Jae Yu '25 who both cleared 3.52m to finish ninth and eleventh, respectively. All three vaulters hit the DIII New Englands standard. Mireya King '28 represented the Ephs in the triple jump, securing a mark of 10.83 meters for 15th place and a DIII New Englands qualification. The Ephs excelled in the throws, too. In the javelin throw, Vivian Koles '27 hit a new personal best mark of 22.03 meters for 22nd place. In the shot put, Maria Fareti '28 took 13th with a mark of 11.98m. Fareti also competed in the hammer throw, recording an outstanding mark of 46.30 meters – a new personal best and DIII New Englands qualifying mark. Chloe Schneeberg '25 also competed in the hammer throw, finishing in 25th place with a throw of 39.57 meters.
The Ephs continued their success in the distance events. In the 3000m steeplechase, Ella Kirkwood '28 ran a personal best of 11:47.62 to place seventh and qualify for DIII New Englands. Then, in the 1500m, the Ephs racked up several impressive times. Lily Yampolsky '28 led the Ephs with a 4th-place finish in 4:39.46, followed by Nora Johnson '25 in 5th place with a personal best time of 4:42.41. Next, Jordan Liss-Riordan '27 finished 6th in a personal best time of 4:42.44 and Tamar Byl-Brann '27 finished in 12th place in a personal time of 4:46.18. Clara Gahm '28 finished 17th in a personal best time of 4:47.74, followed by Kate Tuttle '28 in 21st in 4:48.65. Morgan Eigel '27 finished in 24th with a time of 4:50.27, followed by Julia Brennan '27 in 31st with a personal best time of 4:55.29. The Ephs excelled in the 5000m race, too. Charlene Peng '26 finished in 7th with a personal best of 17:23.28, followed by Jordan Liss-Riordan '27 in 8th place with a personal best time of 17:24.96. Fiona Picone '26 and Hayley Ballard '27 also competed in the 5000m race, finishing in 10th (17:45.90) and 11th (17:52.64, PB), respectively.
The Ephs also delivered strong performances in the sprints and mid-distance events. In the 400m, Ella Sukup '26 finished in 10th place with a time of 59.38 seconds to qualify for DIII New Englands. After their stellar performances in the field events, Mireya King '28, Aurora Lewis '28, and Vivian Koles' 27 took on the 100-meter hurdles. King finished in 22nd with a personal best of 17.11 seconds, followed by Koles in 24th with a time of 17.88 seconds and Lewis in 25th with a personal best time of 18.15 seconds. In the 800 metres, Annika Paluska '28 finished in third place with a time of 2:15.47, followed by Nora Johnson '25 in 12th place with a personal best time of 2:20.09. Both Paluska and Johnson hit qualifying marks for DIII New Englands. Lily Yampolsky '28 finished the 800m in 22nd with a time of 2:22.73, followed by Julia Brennan '27 in 40th with a personal best time of 2:29.90. Finally, Ella Sukup '26 returned in the 200m to post a time of 25.99 seconds, finishing 10th and securing her second DIII New Englands mark of the day.
The Ephs' performance at the UMass Lafreniere Commonwealth Invitational reflects strong momentum as they continue their outdoor season. The team now looks forward to returning to the track at the NESCAC Outdoor Track and Field Championships, hosted by Wesleyan University on April 26th, 2025.
