For the first time since 2014, Brandeis will host the UAA Indoor Track & Field Championship at Gosman Sports & Convocation Center this weekend. The Judges look to improve upon their team performances from last year. This goal is within reach with the development of returning talent as well as the addition of a few standout rookies. Here's who to keep an eye out for:
Sophomore Emily Bryson (North Quincy, Mass. / North Quincy) sits atop the UAA leaderboard in both the mile run and the 3000-meter run. In the mile, Bryson's best mark (4:55.08) leads by 5 seconds and in the 3000m, she leads by 6 seconds with 9:48.17. These times situate her third in the mile and fifth in the 3000m nationally. In both national rankings, she sits behind rival Maryann Gong of MIT whom she outkicked at the Division III New England Indoor Track & Field Championship this past weekend. Bryson, the reigning champion in the 5000m from outdoor, looks to improve upon her fifth place finish in the 3000m last indoor season.
The women's distance squad boasts other women in scoring position. These women include senior Maddie Dolins (Highland Park, Ill. / Highland Park) who is currently ranked fifth in the 3000m (10:09.44) and sophomore Julia Bryson (North Quincy, Mass. / North Quincy) who is currently ranked second in the 5000m (18:12.24). Dolins looks to better her eighth place finish in the 5000m from last outdoor season.
Sophomore Doyin Ogundiran (Dix Hills, N.Y. / Half Hollow Hills East) is ranked sixth in a fiercely competitive 800m field (2:20.74). While the top three marks are comfortably below 2:20, there is a dense cluster of marks around 2:20 that will compete for the final three scoring places, which should make for a very exciting race.
For the men, junior Mitchell Hutton (Villa Park, Calif. / Villa Park) is ranked second in the 5000m (14:59.89). Hutton is trailed by fellow junior Liam Garvey (West Springfield, Mass. / West Springfield) who is ranked sixth (15:16.90).
In terms of sprinting, senior Irie Gourde (Portland, Ore. / York School, Canada) leads the 200m and the 400m with times of 22.33 and 49.46. This is Gourde's first season of collegiate track and has been steadily improving. Nationally, Gourde is currently in fifteenth for the 400m and tied for eighteenth for the 200m. Should he maintain or improve these rankings, a national berth is likely.
In the 200m, Gourde is joined in the top 6 by sophomore Regan Charie (Topsfield, Mass. / Masconomet Reg.) who is currently ranked fifth with a time of 22.82. Charie is ranked eighth in the 60m with a time of 7.18.
Rookie Jack Allan (Wrentham, Mass. / King Phillip Regional), a multi-event specialist, is just outside of scoring position in several events. In the 60m hurdles, Allan is ranked seventh, with a mark of 8.77 seconds. In high jump, Allan is ranked eighth with 1.84m, followed by teammate Mark Franklin (Auburn, N.H. / Pinkerton Acad.) who is ranked ninth with 1.83m.
Rookie Churchill Perry (Pembroke Pines, Fla. / Westminster Academy) leads men's triple jump with a mark of 13.86m. This mark is over a foot further than the mark of his next closest competitor.
The women are represented in the field by junior thrower Jordin Carter (Fort Wayne, Ind. / R Nelson Snyder) who is currently ranked fifth in the weight throw (13.86m) and eighth in shot put (10.64m) after coming off an excellent performance this past weekend.
Competition for field events begins Saturday at noon for men's high jump and women's weight throw and long jump. Track events kick off at 2:00pm the same day with the men's hurdle trials.
By Henry McDonald '19