The women’s track and field team ended their last meet at the University of California, San Diego Triton Invite on Saturday April 24 with a ring of accomplishments under their belt, including a broken school record for freshman sprinter and hurdler Peyton Collins in the 400 meter hurdles event.

Collins’ record was the only one broken this season, but her six other teammates each beat their personal records. At the Pomona Pitzer Invite on April 4 four of the women, Collins, Rose, Lisa Balducci and Kate Emery beat a PR for the 4x400 relay event with a time of 4:22.97.

“It was very successful, every single one of our teammates got personal records in the last two meets … it was a great accomplishment,” Collins said.

With seven runners, the team is smaller than last year’s 20, said distance junior runner Kirsten Moore. This does have advantages; Head Coach Anna Wlodarczyk has been available to give more personalized training and the core of girls can take the team more seriously, Rose said.

“Last season we had girls in more events but overall I feel like this season, since the team is so small, that you could see more of the team improving,” Moore said.

The small number of runners allows for a closer-knit team as well.

“I think the most memorable events are just while we are running and our teammates, at certain pressure points during each race, are standing there cheering us on,” Rose said.

A difficulty for the team lies in the lack of equipment at Chapman. The team spread their time between practicing on the Chapman track and at Orange High School, where they have the facilities for throwing and jumping events, Wlodarczyk said.

Some of this problem comes from the lack of attention for the track team by Chapman.

“A lot of people don’t know we exist it’s kind of, not depressing, but we’re working hard every day and the school doesn’t even know what’s going on,” Moore said.

Some students are unaware of the team as well.

“Not a lot of people know there’s a track team and we want to get more girls – it’s a lot of fun and it doesn’t take too much time,” Rose said.

Next year, the team will need more players.

“The team will be young next year but some cross country runners will join and I do expect more distance runners. When they arrive I’ll know what I can strategize,” Wlodarczyk said.


Contact this reporter: liz.nihill@thepantheronline.com