The Roberts Wesleyan College track team finished the season with seven individuals competing at the NAIA National Outdoor Track Championships at Indiana Wesleyan University in Marion, IN on May 26- 28.  Over 125 colleges and more than 1200 athletes were represented at the meet.

The women’s 4x100 team were the first to compete.  The team of Kelsey Medeiros, Corrie Ingraham, Natalie Wetherwax and Justine Brown had lowered the 4x100 record 3 times this year and they were determined to it again. They were seeded last in their heat (8^th) and their goal was to beat a team and break 49 seconds. They accomplished both goals setting a new school record (48.61) and finishing 5th.  Overall the team was 25^th out of 31 teams, they were seeded 30th.   

Kendra Zaffuto ran the prelims of the 800m on Thursday and qualified for the semi-finals on Friday.  Even though she did not advance to the finals she ran a 2:15.73 breaking her own school record by 1.27 seconds.  She placed 7^th in her heat and 14^th out of 24 overall, she was seeded 23^rd.

The heat forced slow times in the 10,000m run but that didn’t stop Rachel Wren from running a great race.  Being patient she started from her 44^th (seeded last in the race) position and steadily moved up to break into the top 25 finishing 24^th in a time of 39:39.47.
Kelsey Medeiros, a member of the 4x100 team, also competed in the 100m hurdles.  The hurdles did not go as well as the 4x100 and she finished 8^th in her heat with a time of 15.28.  She finished 25^th out of 27 competitors. 

On the men’s side junior Dan Foley competed in the high jump.  Nursing a painful heel he was able to clear the opening height of 1.96m (6’ 5”) but was unable to jump any higher.  Dan finished tied for 21^st out of 25 competitors.

For seniors Rachel Wren, Corrie Ingraham and Justine Brown it was their last race of their college careers.  Rachel came in as a walk-on and gradually improved every year.  She was “The Little Engine That Could,” the story of what optimism and hard work can do.  The many hours and miles she put in paid off.  At first she was at the “I think I can” stage and during her senior year it became “I know I can”.  To be able to qualify for the NAIA National meet was a big accomplishment and to finish 24^th was a testament to Rachel’s steady and persistent determination to improve.  She is #4 All-Time in the 5000m, and #5 in the 10,000m.

Corrie Ingraham leaves Roberts as the school record holder in the 400IH outdoors and the 500m indoors.  However, her greatest attribute to the team was her relay running.  Corrie is the greatest relay runner in the history of women’s track at RWC.  Of the seven relays contested she holds records in 4 of them (4x100 & 4x400 outdoors, 4x200 & 4x800 indoors) and is #2 in the other three (4x400 & DMR indoors and 4x800 outdoors).   She had the unique ability to run the 100(4x100), 200(4x200), 400(4x400) and the 800(4x800 and DMR).  Her name appears more than anyone else on the RWC Top 5 All-Time Performance List with 20 entries, 11 outdoors and 9 indoors.

This year’s women’s team holds the distinction of having more school records (5) and more Top 5 performances (18) than any team in the women’s 31 year history.  Behind every great team there is a great leader and senior Justine Brown was the leader.  When Justine was a sophomore Coach McGinnis became the coach.  She did not let her sophomore standing keep her from leading and her leadership abilities kept developing.  She has led the team every year since.  Justine was the anchor on the record breaking 4x100 and 4x200 relay teams.  She is also #3 all-time in the 200(indoors), #4 in the 200(outdoors), #4 in the 55 (indoors), #5 in the 60m (indoors) and #5 in the 4x400 (indoors).  Justine was the strong steady force of the team.  Her commitment and dedication to the team will be greatly missed.

Posted On: Thursday, June 03, 2010

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