The Middlebury indoor track and field teams took part on Saturday in the non-scoring Tufts Cupid Challenge at the Gantcher Center. The Panthers recorded numerous top-five efforts in a meet that featured teams from all three NCAA divisions. Middlebury returns to competition next weekend, participating at both the David Hemery Valentine Invitational at Boston University on Friday and Saturday and the Gordon Kelley Invitational at MIT on Saturday.
During men's individual action, James Mulliken highlighted the day with an event win in the 600-meter run (1:21.85). Michael Pallozzi finished third in the 60-meter hurdles (8.56), Kevin Serrao was fourth in the mile (4:13.25), while Nicholas Hendrix ran to a fifth-place finish in the 60-meter dash (7.19).
In the 200-meter dash, Jimmy Martinez was fourth with a time of 22.61, while Hendrix was right behind in fifth (22.63). Connor Evans raced to a fifth-place finish in the 3,000-meter run (8:35.75).
The 4x400-meter relay team of Arden Coleman, Martinez, Matthew Durst and Mulliken finished in the runner-up spot with a mark of 3:22.53.
Off the track, John Natalone cleared the bar with the second-best height of 14'5.25" in the pole vault, while Minhaj Rahman was third in the weight throw (48'8"). Teammates Tim DeLorenzo and Jonathan Fisher also tied for fifth in the high jump (6'2").
On the women's side, the Panthers picked up a pair of event victories. Meg Wilson claimed the 800-meter run (2:16.78), while Tasha Greene finished fourth (2:18.69). The 4x200-meter relay quartet of Ellie Greenberg, Elizabeth Walkes, Kate Holly and Alex Cook was victorious with a time of 1:47.47.
Additional top-five efforts came from Talia Ruxin, who was second in the 5,000 (17:19.96), while Kisha Kalra wound up fourth in the 60-meter hurdles (9.57). Holly crossed the line fifth in the 200 (27.11), while Lucy Lang was also fifth in the 600 (1:41.01).
Away from the track, Lauren Boyd finished third in the shot put (36'2.25"), Kreager Taber cleared the bar in a fourth-place tie during the pole vault (10'6"), while Cook hit the sand fifth in the long jump (17'3.5").
