A few select members of the Andover Indoor Track & Field (3-1) team competed in the USATF-NE Championships on Sunday at Harvard University, going against collegiate-level athletes
Quiana Bell ’26 commented that the main strength of the team on Sunday was the relentless support everyone offered each other.
Bell said, “We were all supportive of each other’s successes. And even when somebody felt like they didn’t have a great performance, or could have done better, I think that we all did a good job saying like, ‘Hey, it’s okay, you’ll get them next time.’”
Head Coach Keri Lambert highlighted the sheer size of the meet and the range of competitor ages and skill levels. There were high-school, collegiate, youth club, and even adult athletes who were invited to compete simply for the exhilaration and enjoyment of it.
In an email to The Phillipian, Coach Lambert wrote, “The meet had about 900 entries overall, which was 200 more than last year! Despite how busy it was, though, it still felt really relaxed, from my perspective. This meet attracts an eclectic mix of athletes, including high school and college students, youth club athletes, and people in their twenties to sixties who are there simply for their love of the sport. It makes for an interesting meet!”
Although the team performed well and generally maintained a positive attitude, Bell noted that anxiousness and feelings of uncertainty were present as well.
“Everybody was nervous even those who’ve done it before I feel like it’s like you’re coming off a bus ride [and] you’re at Harvard, you’re at this big meet with so many people that it’s a lot of pressure so I don’t know what I would do about that but everybody was nervous. Maybe mindfulness exercises or figuring out how to slow down our nerves [would help],” said Bell.
Jenna Robertson-Palmer ’27 praised Storrie Kulynych-Irvin ’24’s resilience in the first event of the day, noting her excellent race despite a minor delay. Kulynch-Irvin placed second in the 5K with a time of 18:06.
Robertson-Palmer said, “The first race of the day was the 5K and Storrie ran it. And she was the first one of the day and we were a little bit late and she got there and warmed up quickly and competed well and ran a really good time.”
Robertson-Palmer also admired Co-Captain Emerson Kington ’24’s strategic approach to the 400-Meter Dash, which he placed first in with a time of 50:18.
“It was a hard meet and everyone went out there to compete, and I feel like Emerson really stood out because he ran the [400-Meter Dash] really well. He stayed with the pack and then he made his moves and at the end, he sprinted forwards and he played the race well so I think he stood out the most,” said Robertson-Palmer.
Throughout the season, Indoor Track & Field has battled various illnesses and injuries, but the team has nonetheless persisted to run one of the best seasons in the recent history of PATF.
Lambert wrote, “We struggle to stay fully healthy, especially during the winter season. Sicknesses and injuries often sideline some of our team members, which can be hard for the affected individuals, the team culture, and our team scores. That said, this season was so much better than in years past, so maybe some of our messaging around wellness as well as the adjustments we’ve made to our training is finally beginning to pay off.”
A handful of athletes will compete in Indoor Track & Field Nationals in early March.
