Breaking Records

Women’s Track & Field won the New England DIII Championship for the second time in program history.

For the second time in program history and the first time since 1989, Conn’s Women’s Track & Field team won the New England Division III Outdoor Track & Field Championships, scoring 100 points across two days of action in early May.

Grace McDonough ’26 won the 5,000 meters with a time of 16:48.86 and the 1,500 meters with a time of 4:31.90 and was honored with the Debbie Aitken Award for Most Outstanding Track Performer at the meet.

Alexa Estes ’26 successfully defended her title in the 800 meters, finishing in 2:10.72, and Blessing Kieh ’28 won her second consecutive New England title in the 100-meter dash, finishing with a time of 12.01. Kieh also finished second in the 200-meter dash and fourth in the long jump with a school-record distance of 5.66 meters.

Other points were scored by Kiera Tallas ’27 and Abby Fernald ’26, who finished second and fourth, respectively, in the 5,000 meters; Alina Newman ’27, who finished second in the 400-meter hurdles with a school-record time of 1:03.51; Mary Lonergan ’27, who finished second in the 10,000 meters; and April Schilling ’27, who finished seventh in the 800 meters.

The 4x800 relay of Schilling, Tallas, Fernald and Estes added another victory for the Camels, crossing the line in a time of 9:18.06; and the final points were scored for the Camels in the 4x400 relay, in which Alexis Melvin ’28, Kailin Fuller ’27, Naomi Brightman ’27 and Newman finished third.

“One of the best parts about running track are these rare moments when we can work together as a team toward a big goal like winning a championship,” Estes reflected. “To watch these women work hard every day and accomplish their goals has been so much fun and an absolute joy to be a part of.”