Colgate women’s track and field took a short road trip this Saturday to Ithaca, NY to compete in the Upstate Challenge, which was the fourth meet of the season. 

The team collectively did not achieve the results they would have liked, but there was still plenty of individual success spread across the team. Athletes ranging from throwers, distance runners, sprinters and hurdlers all contributed to some of the team’s highlights of the meet. 

Although Colgate women’s team placed fourth in the meet, some team members stood out amongst the group. The members that were highlights of the meet were sophomore Reagan Darrah, senior Vicky Martinez, senior Carly Schwartz, sophomore Sophia Manners, sophomore Rachel Schaaf and freshman Dominique Groguhe. 

Groguhe has consistently placed at prior meets and she finished tenth in weight throw on Saturday. She has reliably been one of the Raiders’ strongest members on the throwing team. Schaaf had a flight of 5.33 seconds in the long jump, which secured her a respectful fourth place finish. 

Schwartz was a top-ten finisher in the 500-meter dash and Darrah and Manners were also top-ten finishers, but in the 1000-meter race. These top-ten finishes were significant accomplishments for each individual runner and their excellence contributed to the team’s sparks of energy throughout Saturday. 

Martinez finished near the front of the pack of runners in the distance mile race, as Colgate lucky number thirteen, with an impressive time of 5:25.75. 

The Colgate men’s track and field team also placed fourth in the Upstate Challenge. They finished with a cumulative score of 74 points, trailing Princeton (118), Binghampton (120) and Cornell (121). 

The team capitalized on three events while sophomore Dillon Aryeh and junior Brian LaFleche had honorable individual efforts in their events. 

The events they participated in were some of the highlights of their careers. In the 500-meter dash, Aryeh finished with a remarkable first place while senior Ethan Dorow placed a respectable third. 

LaFleche and senior Luke Meyers also placed solidly at first and third, respectively, in the 100-meter race. Colgate took the distance medley relay by a few seconds with a strong team of Aryeh, LaFleche and sophomore Harry Keefe. 

Senior hurdler Warren Carter placed second in the 60-meter hurdle, which set a great example for the underclassman. 

Junior Harrison Schlossberg tossed 15.39 meters in weight throw and placed sixth to put the throwers on the board. Sophomore captain Johna Joseph Jr. left the meet with a positive mindset going into next weekend’s competition.

“I love the energy I’m seeing from this team, and the competitive spirit. Another school record broken and more first place finishes tell me that our potential is deep. We’re a team that shines best near the end,” said Joseph Jr.

The Raiders will hope to carry Joseph Jr.’s energy into next week’s meets. Both teams will be back in Ithaca on Saturday, February 1 for the Robert J. Kane Invite. Joseph Jr. warns the Patriot League Conference that “it is in for a surprise.”