Hall leads Dukes into ECAC meet

With three returning All-East honorees in seniors Sarah Kirtland and Tiffany Hall, and junior Shannon Saunders, the women’s track and field team hopes to improve on last year’s showing at the Eastern Collegiate Athletic Conference Championships this weekend.

Hall, a fifth-year senior, clocked a 1:14.94 in the 500 meter to qualify for what will be the last track meet of her career. Among Hall’s accomplishments are four consecutive conference titles in the 400-meter hurdles, two school records and a NCAA regional qualification.

"She has been the backbone of our sprinting program," coach Bill Walton said. "She has had the most experience at the highest level and she has helped our [other] sprinters."

In the meantime, Hall will have to focus on the competition at hand as she tries to improve from a ninth-place finish last year.

"I know I’m going to make it back to the finals, but I don’t know if I’ll win it," Hall said. "It will be very competitive."

Saunders, a two-time conference champion, will be returning in the 5,000-meter run, where she will be joined by freshman Michelle Beardmore in the event.

Kirtland, who came close to qualifying individually in the 500 meter, will be in the pool of distance runners that will fill up the 3,200 meter and distance medley relays. Joining her will be senior Cindy Dunham, juniors Casey Rasco and Nelly Anderson and sophomores Rachel Giannascoli and Annie Devinney.

Freshman Jamie Taggert, who originally anchored the 3,200-meter relay squad to qualification, is currently injured.

"She’s a freshman and she’s worked hard and she’s done such a great job that she totally deserves to run," Anderson said.

The team’s sole representative in the field events, sophomore triple jumper Adrienne Mayo has been one of the team’s most consistent performers this season. She has cleared the qualifying standard five times this season.

"Adrienne’s someone who will be looking not just to qualify but to place at the regional and, hopefully, national level," Walton said.

The women’s team will be competing March 5 and 6 at Northeastern University’s Reggie Lewis Center in Boston.