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Bates track traditionally has a large number of participants who provide both quality and depth in many different events. Bates has been successful at the highest levels, with 20 athletes earning All-America honors and 12 athletes taking home Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) titles. The experienced six-person coaching staff gives individualized instruction to every athlete in every event. Tremendous campus support is shown by the large number of spectators and the many volunteer officials from the Bates community in attendance at track and field meets.
Officials and fellow competitors respect Bates track and field teams for their sportsmanship and outstanding team support. Throughout its history, Bates has been at the nation’s forefront in supporting new track and field events and new women’s championships. Bates athletes successfully petitioned for the inclusion of the 20-pound weight and the hammer throw at the NCAA championships. Bates athletes and staff also were instrumental in the inclusion of the pole vault at national competitions. Shannon Walker ’97 arrived at Bates with a best vault of 9-0 and left with a personal record of 11-3. The pole vault became a regular season scoring event and an NCAA championship event for women after her graduation. Bates hosted the first NCAA Division III indoor track and field championship in 1985, and Bates coaches helped organize the ECAC championships for both indoor and outdoor track.
2002-03 Team Highlights
Bates secured its spot in the national landscape by finishing 13th at the NCAA Division III Indoor Championships and 14th place at the outdoor championships in the spring. Added exposure for the program came when Liz Wanless '04 (Belleville, Ill.) finished seventh at the USA Indoor Track and Field Championships after hurling the shot put a school record 50-9 1/2.
Bates athletes set seven records during the indoor season, including five by distance runner Kelley Puglisi '03 (Scotia, N.Y.). She set records in the 600-, 800-, 1000- and 1500-meter and mile runs`. Puglisi qualified for the NCAA championships and earned All-America honors by placing sixth in the 1500-meter run. Wanless also earned All-America honors tossing the shot put 50-0 to finish second. The distance medley relay team of Julie Dutton '04 (Londonderry, N.H.), Kathleen Nugent '06 (Buxton, Maine), Kim Whipkey '06 (Portland, Maine) and Puglisi crossed the finish line in a school record time of 12:19.99 at the BU Valentine Classic. Leslie Milk '05 (Elma, N.Y.) earned All-ECAC accolades in the 500-meter run and All-New England Division III recognition in the 600-meter run. Kelly Godsey '06 (Parker, Colo.) was crowned State Champion in the 20 lb. weight throw, establishing a new meet record with a 50-4 1/2 throw. She also garnered All-ECAC and All-New England Division III honors in the shot put.
The Bobcats set four more records during the outdoor season. Wanless earned her second All-America honor of the year in the shot put while Puglisi racked up her third All-
America award in the 1500-meter run. Godsey was the NESCAC Rookie of the Year, NESCAC champion and the New England Division III champion in the hammer throw. She capped off her season at nationals with her school record throw of 178-3, beating the previous mark by nearly 27 feet. The throw earned Godsey a third place finish and All-America honors. Puglisi wrapped up her career at Bates by breaking her own mark in the 1500-meter run finishing fifth with at the NCAA championship meet with a time of 4:31.91. Wanless, the Bates Female Athlete of the Year and the NESCAC champion in the shot put, set a school record of 49-8 1/2 during the season. All-ECAC discus thrower Tiffany Tropino '05 (Huntley, Ill.) set a school record with a toss of 126-4. |
