SPRINGFIELD, Mass. - The Smith College track & field team opened its 2025–26 indoor campaign with a strong set of early-season performances at the Springfield College Home Opener on Saturday, highlighted by a sweep of the women's pole vault and deep showings in the throws and sprints.
Smith owned the runway in the women's pole vault, where senior Kerry Seekamp (Destin, FL/Fort Walton Beach) cleared 3.25 meters to win the event and headline a dominant Bears trio. Classmate Jillian da Costa Pinto (West Hartford, CT/Conard) finished runner-up at 3.20 meters, while sophomore Cady Sorenson (Orlando, FL/Lake Highland Prep) completed the sweep in third with a clearance of 3.05 meters as Smith went 1–2–3 in the event.
In the throws, junior Mollie Doyle () led a three-Bear contingent in the shot put, placing 13th with a mark of 8.33 meters. Junior Elaine McCarty () followed in 15th at 8.10 meters, and first-year Caroline Brennick (Cranston, RI/Cranston East) opened her collegiate career with a 7.85-meter throw for 17th as all three finished inside the top 20.
The same group returned in the weight throw with another block of solid results. Doyle recorded the top Smith finish again, taking 13th with a toss of 10.57 meters, while junior Annabel English () was close behind in 14th (10.42m) and Brennick added a 9.91-meter effort for 15th, giving the Bears three of the top 15 spots in a deep field.
On the track, sophomore Elowyn Gottsacker (Portland, OR/Roosevelt) led the hurdles squad with a strong day in the 60-meter hurdles. She advanced to the final and placed fifth in 9.61 seconds after posting 9.88 in the preliminary round, while McCarty added to her workload with an 11.01 season-opening run in the prelims.
Smith's sprinters showed encouraging depth in the women's 60-meter dash prelims. Senior Lena Baker (Lee's Summit, MO/Lee's Summit North) clocked 8.40 seconds to pace the Bears, followed by first-years Sahana Heilman (Bernardston, MA/Pioneer Valley Regional High School) (8.64) and Annika Zurn (Sudbury, MA/Lincoln-Sudbury Regional) (8.83), with junior Gwyneth Howes () close behind in 9.01 as all four Bears lined up well in a crowded sprint field.
Baker came back with one of Smith's top track finishes of the meet in the 200-meter dash, crossing the line in 27.15 seconds to earn fourth place overall. Gottsacker (28.40), McCarty (29.13), Howes (29.68), and Zurn (30.93) rounded out a busy day for the sprint crew, with all five Bears finishing inside the top 22 in the event.
Head Track & Field Coach Molly Sear was encouraged by what she saw in the team's debut outing. "Today was a great start to our season! We had some major PRs in throws, and some very impressive competition to add to our training!" said Sear.
Smith returns to action after winter break when it travels to Brandeis University for the Reggie Payou Invitational on Janaury 17th.
About Smith Athletics: Smith College is a NCAA Division III member of the New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference that sponsors 11 intercollegiate sports. For more information log onto GoSmithBears.com and follow us on Facebook and Instagram
