For William and Mary, the third time isn’t just a charm — it’s a pattern. In both 2003 and 2004, the College swept all four Colonial Athletic Association titles in cross country and track and field. Ten years later, the Tribe did it again.
After winning the men’s and women’s cross country championships in the fall, the track and field program won both the men’s and women’s outdoor championships over the weekend in Towson, Md. The Tribe is the only squad to sweep all four championships in one academic year.
The men’s side finished with 185 points, topping second-place University of North Carolina-Wilmington (178) and Northeastern (158). The women’s 154.5 points pulled it clear of Delaware (141.5) and UNCW and James Madison (tied third, 127). Alongside the team championships, the College also won recognition as two throwers, sophomore Brian Waterfield and senior Natalie Baird, took home the meet’s Most Outstanding Field Athlete awards.
Here’s a breakdown of the College’s individual title wins at the CAA track and field championship meet.
Shot Put
On the men’s side, Waterfield threw 16.34 meters to claim the title. The throw ranks eighth best all-time in the College’s records. Freshman Taylor Frenia finished second with a 16.08 meter throw. Both Waterfield and Frenia qualified for the Intercollegiate Association of Amateur Athletes of America championships.
Not to be outdone, freshman Rochelle Evans’ 13.82 meter throw won her the shot put title. Evans also shattered her own freshman record in the process, now ranking eighth all-time at the College.
Hammer Throw
Baird placed in all of her events, but she shined in the hammer throw. The senior only fouled once in all attempts, finishing with a 49.09 meter toss to claim the title.
Javelin
Freshman Bob Smutsky had six attempts to win the title. Instead, Smutsky passed on his final four, pleased with his 66.02 meter toss. The field couldn’t top Smutsky’s throw, and Waterfield finished in third for the Tribe.
Clear of the field by two meters, freshman Katie Johnston’s 43.82 meter throw won the javelin event on the women’s side. Johnston was one of two athletes to throw beyond 40 meters.
Pole Vault
With three athletes able to clear the final height, freshman Austin Vegas won on basis of number of attempts. Fellow freshman Derek O’Connor tied for second. Both cleared the 4.65 meter jump.
3,000 meter Steeplechase
It wasn’t just that senior Liam Anastasia-Murphy glided to victory with a 9:33 time, but rather, it was that Anastasia-Murphy had never competed in the steeplechase outside practice. Neither had his teammates, who finished second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth, ninth and tenth. The sweep of the first six places garnered the College a whopping 31 points, critical in the race for the team championship.
5,000 meter Run
Junior Josh Hardin began his impressive day with a 14:13 finish to claim the individual title. The College took seven of the 13 slots in the event.
Meghan McGovern continued the Tribe freshmen’s success, winning the race with a 16:34 finish, barely out-stepping junior Elaina Balouris, who finished in second with the same time. Freshman Carolyn Hennessey completed the podium-sweep with a third place finish.
10,000 meter Run
Hardin won his second title of the day, crossing the line in 30:17. Hardin was among the College’s five runners in the top seven positions of the race.
After freshman Emily Stites crossed the finish line, 30 seconds passed before the next runner would follow suit. Stites’ 34:15 run adds to a freshman campaign that has included winning an individual national title, captaining Team USA’s junior cross country squad, and finishing 23rd in the world at the World Cross Country Championships.
The College will prepare for next week’s IC4A meet, looking to qualify for the National Collegiate Athletic Association East Preliminaries.