The Bates women's track and field team placed eighth among 30 scoring teams Saturday at the New England Division III Women's Indoor Track & Field Championships, the Bobcats' best performance at the meet since taking seventh in 2012, and a jump of seven places from last year's finish.
The Bobcats scored their 42 points at the meet from a range of events, including in three relays. Senior captain Elena Jay (West Hartford, Conn.) was Bates' lone event winner, capturing the New England title in the 3,000-meter run.
Jay finished the 3,000 in 10:04.34, 0.39 seconds off of her career-best time but more than six seconds ahead of the runner-up, MIT's Nicole Zeinstra (10:11.09). Her time ranks 16th in Division III nationwide. She is also 41st in the country in the 5,000 meters, after winning the 5K title at the Maine State Women's Indoor Championship.
Jay's performance was worth 10 of Bates' 42 points, as they edged ninth-place Bowdoin by a point and came within five points of seventh-place Middlebury. The Bobcats compete this weekend at the all-divisions Open New England Championships at Boston University.
