NEW YORK CITY, N.Y. - - The Bard College Track and Field Record Book desperately needed to be rewritten, and Bard's team, coming off a down year, was up to the challenge. There was no better venue—for any Track and Field athlete, The Armory in Washington Heights is hallowed ground.

From Coach Brody Smith: "It's a special opportunity to compete at a venue where so many historic things have happened;" the National Track and Field Hall of Fame is held inside, and thousands of poignant stories, which Bard added to today. The four-story building has a gravitas that nobody is above—it's the "fastest track in the world," due to the banked turns, curving into the center, allowing for an aggressive inside lean that drops paces dramatically. Bard harnessed the nervous energy to create a successful afternoon, walking away with six new school records, legendary performances, and personal bests galore. 

The day began with a bang: Carina Cooke taking down the 60 meter school record. Cooke, Lismery Guzman-Cruz, Johnny Henriquez, Ian Zhao, Avery Crafton, and new addition Aiden Trapp all competed in the 60 meter dash. Cooke and Guzman-Cruz both threw down personal bests, 8.36 seconds, improving on the previous school record by 0.05s, and 10.01 seconds respectively. The men packed together, Zhao at 7.7 seconds, Trapp at 7.82, Henriquez at 7.85, and Crafton through in 7.9.

Cooke went two for two on school records, taking the 300 meter later. This was her primary aim for the event, and many conversations with Brody created a strategic finish, taking the mark by three seconds. From Cooke: "I knew that I could break the 300 record, I just needed to believe in myself, and I did." On the bus ride back, Cooke revealed "it was my first time running the 300, so breaking the record was really humbling and exciting."

Next, Zhao and Trapp took the track again for the 400 meter, Zhao following close behind Trapp's 55.63 with a 56.81—a new best for Zhao. On the women's side, Alina Sharaban came through 400 meters in 1:17.29. She returned with Anna Shtandenko for the 600 meter, where Shtandenko closed in 1:46.80, setting a new school record by a full second, fending off a challenger in the final stretch to win her heat. Sharaban, in the previous heat, navigated a 2:32.91, a powerful effort for their first tries at the strange distance. 

The men's mile had a compelling story coming in—Elijah Flynn going for the school record, and Bo Hopwood and Calvin Thomas both hunting the sub five minute mark. In the end, only one was successful, though the race was electric enough to satisfy each competitor. Elijah Flynn won his heat in 4:37.29, a dominant effort where he led from the front for the entire 1609 meters—setting a new school record.

He's happy to take home his first record, "it's not 4:35," (his high school best), but he said "I did my best, and I'm proud of that." Hopwood and Thomas began the race from the back, following the wavelights set at 5:00/mile, but fell off the mark midway into the race. Both resolved to forget the timing marks, and rallied past nearly the entire field, coming from 10th and 12th to third and fourth, Hopwood at 5:07.4, Thomas at 5:12.27. Though both missed their intention, they are emboldened by the evident ability to run a strategic race. 

Rounding out the distance side, Chloe Desautels ran the 1000 meter as the lone Bard athlete, clinching a 3:55.62 in a competitive field. For the men's 1k, Flynn was aiming at the 2:40.40 school record, but fell short of the mark, coming in at 2:48.00. He led most of the race, but the lactic buildup from his mile effort proved insurmountable, and was passed in the final 200 meters. Henriquez and Crafton also ran the 1k, 3:17.22 and 3:59.41 respectively. Despite Crafton missing his target, it did not damper his positive outlook, as both him and Henriquez are on track to qualify for the Heptathlon at the Liberty League Indoor Championships in February.

Shtandenko and first-year Alex Laskowski ran the mile together, where Shtandenko proved her cross country dominance translated to the polyurethane; 5:47.51 is a new school record. Laskowski followed in 6:41.12, led out fast by a competitive field, and is now looking to transfer to longer distances, setting her sights on the 3k. Shtandenko, on her two new school records, had this to say: "I feel great, because it's my first track and field event ever, I'm very grateful for my coaches, and the amazing team, and the support that I get."

For the Field events, Crafton and Henriquez began their high variance day with the long jump, Crafton clearing 4.24m, Henriquez at 5.19m. As the only multi-event athletes, they are getting used to competing in a wide variety every day; today was a good test of their ability to run distance, sprints, and compete in a field event. The women's shot put was the final record to fall of the day, bright first-year prospect Eanna Hauck throwing 10.55m in her first collegiate effort, missing her personal best by 0.01 meters, but smashing the school record by over three meters. "It's disappointing" to miss by such a slim margin, but she has her sights set forward, saying "I'll get it next time." She testifies that the nerves of the first college meet played a role, as well as the packed stadium, "it was a lot more people than high school." When she returns with steeled nerves, there is no doubt she will only continue to improve. Guzman-Cruz also threw the shot put, going 6.03 meters on her first attempt. 

To summarize, Bard athletes took six school records, the men's mile (4:37.29, Elijah Flynn), women's 60 meter (8.36s, Carina Cooke), women's 300 meter (44.34s, Carina Cooke), women's 600 meter (1:46.80, Anna Shtandenko), women's mile (5:47.51, Anna Shtandenko), and, women's shot put (10.55m, Eanna Hauck). There is a tangible feeling going around Bard Track and Field—a resurgence led by Coach Smith's recruiting efforts and the payoff of effort from an inspired team.

The Raptors returns February 1st for Hampshire College's meet hosted at Smith College, Amherst Massachusetts. Until then, the team heads into a winter break training block focused on building a base that can lead many future years. Women 
Shot Put 
5. Eanna Hauck 10.55m (34-7 ½) School Record  
Lismery Guzman-Cruz 6.03m (19-09 ½)
 
60m Prelim
Carina Cooke 8.36 PR & School Record 
Lismery Guzman-Cruz 10.01 PR

300m 
Carina Cooke 44.34 PR & School Record

400m 
Alina Sharaban 1:17.29 

600m
8. Anna Shtandenko 1:46.80 School Record
Alina Sharaban 2:32.91 

1000m
Chloe Desautels 3:55.62 

Mile 
10. Anna Shtandenko 5:47.51 School Record
Alex Laskowski 6:41.12

Men
Long Jump 
Johnny Henriquez 5.19m (17- ½)
Avery Crafton 4.24m (13-11)
 
60m Prelim 
Ian Zhao 7.70 
Aiden Trapp 7.82
Johnny Henriquez 7.85
Avery Crafton 7.90

400m 
Aiden Trapp 55.63
Ian Zhao 56.81 PR 

1000m
5. Elijah Flynn 2:48.00

Mile 
Elijah Flynn 4:37.29 PR & School Record
Bo Hopwood 5:07.74
Calvin Thomas 5:12.27