Northampton, MA --- Sophomore Mercedes Arnold (Mira Loma, CA) and freshman Leah Walczak (Whitinsville, MA) highlighted some strong performances by the Worcester State women's indoor track team as they finished just 10 points off the lead for second place at the Tartan Invitational hosted by Smith.
Amherst won the meet with 136 total points followed by the Lancers (126) and local rival WPI (109.50).
Arnold had a terrific day in the field as she took home the top spot in the triple jump (10.75 meters) and second in the long jump (4.86m) before she helped the 4x200 relay team claim first with a time of 1:51.42. The other runners on the team were sophomores Nicole Lemlin (Beverly, MA), Sarah Rafferty (Uxbridge, MA) and Alicia Ryan (Townsend, MA).
Walczak distinguished herself by placing first in the 400 (1:00.29) for the second straight week while Lemlin finished second in the 55 (7.67). Freshman Cathy Chude (Marlboro, MA) had a solid meet as she placed second in the 55 meter hurdles (9.03), seventh in the shot put (10.66m) and sixth in the high jump (1.40m). Classmate Rose Mathieu (Somerville, MA) added third in the 55 (7.73) and long jump (4.86m) while she fourth in the 400 (1:04.60) was ninth in the triple jump (9.60m).
Junior Christina Bisbee (N. Attleboro, MA) rounded out the field as she chalked up second in the weight throw (12.80m) classmate Andrea Ouellette (Salisbury, MA) notched second in the triple jump (10.62m) and fourth in the long jump (4.82m).
The sprinters were also paced by Rafferty who placed fifth in the 55 (7.76) and 200 (28.38) while Ryan added sixth in the 55 (7.80) and eighth in the 200 (28.58). Freshman Kyle McElroy (Rutland, MA), Ouellette and first-year Steph Muse (Chelmsford, MA) each recorded fifth (9.30), seventh (9.32) and eighth (9.40), respectively, in the 55 meter hurdles.
Freshman Erin Donohue (Saugus, MA) led the distance corps with a fourth place performance in the 800 (2:34.72) and ninth with a personal best time in the mile (5:33.18) while McElroy tallied 10th in the 800 (2:51.73).
The 4x800 team of sophomores Meg Alarie (Sutton, MA), Meg Plant (Franklin, MA), Kacy Gillis (Mansfield, MA) along with freshman Nicole Beaudreau (Windsor, CT) capped off the meet finishing sixth with a time of 11:44.67.
The Lancers will compete again next week at the MASCAC Championships and New England Alliance Championships hosted by Southern Maine.