Last weekend, the Raider women’s track team competed in the Bison Outdoor Classic where they had some strong performances, especially out of their distance team. The men sent a limited team to the Albany Spring Classic and were lead by juniors Luke Merkel and Alex Fuller-Young, who finished fourth in the 800m and 400m races, respectably.

The women’s team was lead by a first-place finish from the 4×800 team, consisting of first-years Abby Chapman and Elizabeth Kennedy and sophomores Hannah Failing and Nicole Christoforo. The relay team ran an impressive time of 9:28.95, edging out the foursome from Patriot League foe Lehigh by almost four seconds.

In addition to running an impressive leg on the 4x800m team, Failing also shined at the meet as an individual. Failing ran a personal best time of 4:38.64 in the 1,500m run, finishing eighth. Failing’s performance places her fourth all-time in Colgate history in the event.

After her race on Friday, Failing returned on Saturday and once again made an impact for the Raiders. Failing ran her best time of the season for the Raiders in the 3,000m race in 10:16.80. Failing’s time was good enough to place her second all-time for the Raiders in the 3,000m event.

Junior Lisa Germain continued her strong outdoor season for the Raiders, recording her best jump of the season in the long jump. Germain’s jump of 18’1.25″ earned her third place honors at the meet.

Another jumper who recorded a strong performance for the Raiders was junior Emily Thomson. Thomson also had best jump of the season with a leap of 5’1″ in the high jump. Thomson’s performance was good enough for fifth place at the meet.

Christoforo was another Raider who had a seasonal personal best on the weekend. Running the 800m, Christoforo placed fifth in a time of 2:15.63. Finishing just behind Christoforo was Chapman, running the 800m in 2:17.25, finishing in eighth place.

On the men’s side of the track, Colgate sent only a few runners to the Albany Spring Classic, but those who went made an impact.

Merkel finished fourth with a time of 1:57.44 in the 800m. Classmate Fuller-Young ran the 400m hurdles in a time of 56:69, to earn sixth place. Also running in the 400m hurdles event for the Raiders was first-year Sean Baumann, who placed eighth in a time of 60.20.

First-year Andy Holway ran the 400m dash in a time of 49:53, earning sixth place honors for the Raiders. Adam Forman place 14th for the Raiders in the 1,500m event in a time of 4:16.24.

This weekend, the Raider women travel to Lafayette for a Patriot League meet on Saturday. The men, meanwhile, will travel to Worcester for a league meet on the campus of the College of the Holy Cross.