Five Lord Jeffs travelled to Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology in Terre Haute, Ind., at the beginning of Spring Recess to represent the indoor track team in just two races in its final meet of the season. Despite the limited contingent, all five runners earned all-American honors and one emerged as a national champion.

Women

Elise Tropiano has had quite a phenomenal senior year. She finished in second place at the NCAA Div. III Cross-Country Championships and was named USTFCCCA Div. III Scholar-Athlete of the Year. On March 14, the tri-captain added to this success by winning the 5000-meter run in 16:58.84. She was the only runner to finish under the 17-minute mark, beating out Stephanie McNamara of Tufts University by almost four seconds. As a sophomore and again as a junior, Amherst’s newest national champion placed seventh in the 5000-meter run at the indoor national championships, earning All-American honors both years. Tropiano, a star tri-sport athlete, will look to have another stellar season on the outdoor track in the spring.

Tropiano keeps the race in perspective. “It was really a rewarding experience. The race didn’t start off as I would have liked but by the last 1200 meters, I knew I had to start plugging away if I wanted to win. I had to adapt. A girl from Tufts has a really stong kick so I knew I needed to get away from her and it worked out! It was a nice way to end my last indoor track season and I’m looking forward to the outdoor season,” said the national champion.

Men

The Amherst men’s distance medley relay, including sophomore Tommy Moore in the 400 and juniors Will Bell, Jimmy Swanson and tri-captain Kit Callahan in the 1200, 1600 and 800, respectively, also ran outstandingly well at the meet, placing seventh. The relay originally included first-year Ben Scheetz, but he was injured and replaced by Callahan. The distance medley team came in with a time of 10:06.35, a mere 2.1 seconds behind Tufts’ team and 1.3 seconds behind Trinity College.

The men’s distance medley relay earned two points for the Amherst men, putting the Jeffs in a tie for 61st place in a field of 74. With her national championship, Tropiano earned the Lord Jeffs 10 points, good for a tie for the Amherst women in 21st place amongst a field of 68 teams.

The Lord Jeff men and women hope to use their combined momentum at the close of their indoor season to launch into their outdoor season, which begins Saturday at Trinity College.