Northampton, MA - For the first time in the three-year history of the meet, Smith College Track & Field claimed victory at the Peter de Villiers Cup, securing the title with a team score of 68 points over Mount Holyoke (59) and Wellesley (40). The Pioneers delivered a dominant performance, earning event wins, setting personal bests, and breaking records to bring home the championship.

Record-Breaking and Championship-Worthy Performances

• Leading the charge, Shams Ferver (Barre, VT/U-32) made history in the 600m, blazing to victory with a school-record time of 1:37.61. Teammate Amelia Dion (Burlington, VT) followed closely behind, finishing second in a New England DIII Championship-qualifying 1:43.13 to add valuable points for Smith.
• In the sprints, Daniela Pilier (Higuey, DR/Escuela Liceo Juan XXIII de la Salle) had an impressive day, winning the 60m dash in 8.13 (PR-tying) and finishing second in the 200m with 27.04. Senior teammate Tiff Hooker contributed to Smith's scoring with a PR of 8.36 in the 60m, securing fourth place.
• The mile featured another Smith victory, as Lucy Kreipke (Princeton, NJ/Princeton) set a new PR of 5:17.76 to claim first place. Catherine Collins (Westfield, NJ/Westfield) also recorded a personal best (5:22.73) to take third place, further strengthening Smith's distance squad.
• In the 1000m, senior Serena Britner (Hampton, CT/St. Bernard) dominated the field, crossing the line in 3:03.61, her best time of the season, to secure first place.

Multi-Event Success and Field Event Contributions

• Smith's depth was on display in the 60m hurdles, where first-year Elowyn Gottsacker (Portland, OR/Roosevelt) finished second, while Jill da Costa Pinto secured third place with a PR of 10.38. Pinto also shined in the pole vault, clearing 3.10m for the second consecutive week to finish second.
• The 400m saw Lena Baker (Lee's Summit, MO/Lee's Summit North) take home the title, while first-year Ada Fisher () added to the team's tally with a fourth-place finish. Gwyneth Howes () narrowly missed scoring but set a massive PR of 1:04.96, demonstrating her growth in the event.
• In the 3000m, senior Pria Parker (Hingham, MA/Hingham) cruised to victory, while junior Juanita Gutierrez (Worcester, MA/Burncoat) earned fourth place with a 13-second PR of 11:00.81. Amie Gronert (Milwaukee, WI/Shorewood) (11:05.51, 5th) and Jonna Rosenthal (Portland, ME/Deering) (11:34.39, 9th) also posted PRs in the event.
• First-year Cady Sorensen claimed victory in the pole vault, tying her PR with a jump of 3.25m, while sophomore Elaine McCarty () continued her stellar season with a season-best 1.46m high jump for second place.
• Smith athletes excelled in the throws, with first-year Mollie Doyle () and senior Melanie Wells () setting huge PRs in the weight throw, with marks of 9.85m and 9.43m, respectively.
• In the jumps, senior Juliet May () recorded personal bests in both the high jump (1.31m) and triple jump (8.90m), finishing fifth and seventh, respectively.

Sealing the Victory with Relay Dominance

• Smith clinched the Peter de Villiers Cup by winning both relays. The 4x400m team of Baker, Fisher, Dion, and Ferver stormed to victory in 4:14.1, while the Distance Medley Relay (DMR) squad of Britner, Parker, Collins, and Connor secured maximum points with a dominant 12:51.13 performance.
• With a well-rounded team effort, Smith Track & Field etched their name in history, capturing their first Peter de Villiers Cup title. The Pioneers will look to carry this momentum forward as they prepare for the next phase of their season, aiming for continued improvement and championship success.

Up Next

Smith will travel to Boston next weekend for the New England Division III Track & Field Championships.  

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 on to smithpioneers.com and follow us on Facebook, and  Instagram.