Track & Field’s Rameau Earns NE DIII Qualifying Mark at Branwen Smith-King Invite

MEDFORD, Mass. -- Sophomore Tatenda Rameau (Syracuse, N.Y.) was the top finisher for the Blue in three events, including a fifth place finish in the long jump, as Wellesley College track and field competed at the inaugural Branwen-Smith King Invitational on Saturday at Tufts University. 

The Blue totaled 20 points in the team standings to finish in 11th place. Division II Stonehill College took home the team title, followed by Wesleyan and MIT.

Rameau registered a New England Division III Championship qualifying mark on her third attempt in the long jump, leaping to a distance of 5.10m (16' 8.75"). Her mark was good for fifth in the event on Saturday and was the second longest leap in Blue program history.

Rameau's day continued on the track, where she was ninth overall in the 60m, missing the finals by one spot with a time of 8.31 seconds. Rameau also led a group of six Wellesley runners in the 200m, finishing 21st overall in 28.21. Also in action in the 200m, first year Hana Sugioka (Newbury Park, Calif.) added a time of 28.61 to finish 28th after winning her heat, while senior Senior Priscilla Lee (Anaheim, Calif) took 45th in 29.66. Lee was also busy in the field, clearing 1.49m to take 16th in the high jump and landing a leap of 4.43m to finish 21st in the long jump. Sugioka added a 28th place finish in the 60m Hurdles (10.96). Classmate Rachel Berets (Belmont, Mass.) was the top-finisher for the Blue in the 60m hurdles, taking 20th (10.45).

Sophomore Taylor Mahlandt (Ephrata, Pa.) and senior Taylor Fortnum (Portolla Valley, Calif.) finished second and third overall in the 3000m to lead a contingent of eight Blue distance runners. Mahlandt and Fortnum finished with times of 10:48.47 and 10:55.79, respectively. Senior Clare Salerno (Johnson, Vt.) followed in 11th with a time of 11:28.08, just steps ahead of teammate Fiona Harrigian (San Marino, Calif.) who took 12th in 11:28.13.

Fortnum added a time of 2:30.34 in the 800m to register her second top-ten time of the day. The Wellesley senior was one of two runners in the event, with sophomore Elizabeth Wegman (East Sandwich, Mass.) finishing 20th (2:41.81). Wegman ended her day in the final leg of the 4 x 400m relay, teaming with senior Jenn Harris (Vestal, N.Y.), Sugioka, and classmate Ava Shipman (Makawao, Hawaii) to help the Blue take ninth and earn a pair of points in 4:45.29.

After competing in the 1000m last week at Wheaton, first year April Chu (Fremont, Calif.) was the only competitor in the mile, finishing in 19th place with a time of 5:35.52.

Junior Helen Andersen (Madison, N.J.) had the top toss for the Blue in both the shot and the weight throw. Andersen finished 28th overall (8.48m) in the shot and was 12th overall (12.26m) in the weight throw.

Wellesley will return to Tufts next Saturday for the Cupid Challenge at Gantcher Fieldhouse.