NEW LONDON, Conn. — The Smith College women's track and field team closed the 2026 New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) Track and Field Championships with a seventh-place finish on Saturday, totaling 61.5 points across two days at Coast Guard. The Bears stamped the final day with three podium performances, headlined by Elowyn Gottsacker (Portland, OR/Roosevelt) in the 100-meter hurdles, Lyda Martin (San Antonio, TX/Lee) in the 1500 meters, and a third-place finish in the 4x400-meter relay.
Gottsacker raced to third in the 100-meter hurdles final, crossing in 15.09 to score six points. The time ranks her No. 83 in Division III for the 2026 season. Martin took runner-up honors in the 1500 meters at 4:37.69 — good for eight team points and a mark that places her No. 60 in Division III. The 4x400-meter relay quartet of Lena Baker (Lee's Summit, MO/Lee's Summit North), Avery Maiese, Catherine Collins (Westfield, NJ/Westfield) and Martin capped the meet with a third-place finish in 4:06.82, adding six more points to Smith's total.
The Bears collected several additional scoring performances on the second day. Baker added a fourth-place showing in the 400 meters at 58.94, and Sofia Jurusz (Wildwood Crest, NJ/Middle Township) matched the placement in the 800 meters at 2:17.88. Collins followed with a sixth-place finish in the 800 in 2:19.69, while Lucy Kreipke (Princeton, NJ/Princeton) placed fifth in the 3000-meter steeplechase at 11:31.76. The 4x100-meter relay of Gottsacker, Baker, Gwyneth Howes () and Daniela Pilier (Higuey, DR/Escuela Liceo Juan XXIII de la Salle) picked up two points with a seventh-place finish in 50.67.
Elaine McCarty () wrapped up her heptathlon with a strong slate of Day 2 events, marking 4.79 meters (15-08.75) in the long jump, 26.60 meters (87-03) in the javelin, and 2:41.79 in the 800 meters.
Elsewhere on the track, Baker paced Smith in the 200 meters at 26.25, with Pilier in 26.39 and Howes at 28.29. Howes also ran 1:06.68 in the 400-meter hurdles, with Gottsacker adding a 1:13.94. Maiese clocked 4:56.08 in the 1500 meters and Abigail Lei crossed in 5:09.48. Annika Wells (Ashland, OR/Ashland High School) added a 2:29.98 in the 800 meters. In the 5000 meters, Hillary Connor (Yarmouth, ME/Yarmouth) led the Bears in 18:40.77, followed by Elise Kennedy (Middletown, CT/Middletown) (19:23.90) and Indigo Olsen (Leadville, Colorado/Lake County High School) (20:02.39).
On the field, Caroline Brennick (Cranston, RI/Cranston East) led Smith in the discus at 29.74 meters (97-07), with Mollie Doyle () marking 24.95 meters (81-10) and Annabel English () posting 24.14 meters (79-02). In the shot put, Kerry Seekamp (Destin, FL/Fort Walton Beach) reached 9.67 meters (31-08.75) and Doyle followed at 9.64 meters (31-07.50).
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The Bears next compete at the New England Division III Championships in May.
About Smith Athletics Smith College is a NCAA Division III member of the New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) that sponsors 11 intercollegiate sports. For more information, log on to GoSmithBears.com and follow the Bears on Facebook and Instagram.
