<vett ’11 and Simone Childs-Walker ’12 are currently representing the Carleton women’s track and field team at the NCAA Division III National Championships in Marietta, Ohio. Perfect throwing weather- 83 ° F and sunny- and a flight including javelin powerhouses Lisa Brown, Brandi McNeil, and Leah Kay pushed Lovett to a 7th place All-American finish, as she threw 41.96 meters, or 137 feet 8 inches. Lovett threw 144 feet 7 inches over spring break at Disney World, but injuries throughout the spring season have kept Lovett from matching this performance since then. It is also unlikely that Marietta matches Disney’s magic as a place where “dreams come true”.
Childs-Walker, who holds the 6th fastest Division III rank in the 10,000 meters with a time of 35:52, raced last night. (Put into context, this indicates that she has averaged a 5:47 mile pace over 6.2 miles.) The first and second ranked runners will almost certainly dominate, but the next seven competitors have also run under 36 minutes, and in such a long race, it will be a brutal battle to earn a place on the medal stand.
Additionally, Childs-Walker barely snuck into the 5,000 meter race, which will be contested Saturday afternoon. Although she is currently ranked last out of the 18 fastest 5,000 meter runners in Division III, Childs-Walker proved at the Indoor National Championships that she knows how to race. Unlike her competitors who allowed themselves to be swept up in the excitement of the meet, Childs-Walker asserted her intelligence by running a smart and controlled race in which she used the last mile to blow by the other gasping athletes, finishing 3rd by crossing the line in 17:04. Because there is only a 27-second gap in the entire field, Childs-Walker is certain to have a blast reeling in the unsuspecting competition. When they return, please congratulate Lovett and Childs-Walker on their inspiring strength, willpower, and dedication throughout this entire season.