While the Amherst track and field program has enjoyed an enormously successful winter campaign, the spring season is fast approaching. As the focus shifts from the indoor to outdoor track, the Jeffs are looking to sustain the excellent performances that netted them three national qualifiers from the men’s side (Ben Scheetz ’12, Patrick Grimes ’13 and Matt Melton ’14) and a qualifying women’s team in the distance medley relay that consisted of Lauren Almeida ’13, Naomi Bates ’14, Melissa Sullivan ’12 and Kerri Lambert ’13.

The men’s squad, led by coach Erik Nedeau, will continue to rely on the leadership of Scheetz, the 2011 Divison III Indoor Scholar Athlete of the Year and last season’s Indoor Track Athlete of the Year.

The team’s value, however, lies in many performers beyond Scheetz, including Grimes and Melton.

In fact, Andrew Reed ’12 will join Scheetz and Melton as three returning legs of a 4x400 relay team that turned some heads last year. Grimes, who qualified for indoor nationals in the mile run, should continue to head a strong middle distance pack of runners that should score plenty of points for the Amherst cause.

In addition to the track events, jumpers Mark Cort ’15 and Steven Hetterich ’15 will join thrower Denzel Duncan ’13 in the field events for the Jeffs.

On the women’s side, Lambert and Bates should provide a solid foundation for another great spring team. Bates, whose prowess in short sprints and jumping makes her one of the team’s most versatile and valuable athletes, looks to improve on her impressive rookie season this year.

Lambert, who enjoyed a fantastic indoor season, will join Almeida and Sullivan as the team’s leading mid-distance runners.
Sullivan, who qualified for nationals last spring in the 1500-meter run, will try to improve on her long list of accomplishments in her final spring in the purple and white. Aside from the runners, jumpers Jessica Mueller ’13 and Joelle Comrie ’14 hope to add some points for Amherst in the field events.

Thrower Jordan Roehl ’12 will look to best her own school record in the weight throw and post solid performances in the other throwing events, as well.

With the indoor championship meets wrapping up, the spring season is full of promise for both the men’s and women’s teams, and if the winter has been any indication, the Jeffs should be in for a successful spring.