Bates College

Phyllis Graber Jensen/Bates College

(File photo) Elise Lambert dominated the 800 meters at the Tufts Invitational on May 8, 2021, improving her position for NCAA Championship qualifying.

Women's Track and Field 5/8/2021 8:34:00 PM Andy Walter

Lambert's 800 tops day of personal records for women's track

SOMERVILLE, Mass. -- Junior Elise Lambert improved her career-best time for the second time in as many weeks, winning the 800 meters and improving her chances of qualifying for the NCAA Championships, to highlight the Tufts Invitational for the Bates women's track and field team on Saturday.

Lambert (Amherst, N.H.) dominated the 800 on Saturday in a winning time of 2:13.49, which cut 0.63 seconds off of her PR from last week. Lambert moved up from 20th place into a tie for 16th place in Division III in the event. Track events at the NCAA Championships, taking place May 28-29 in Greensboro, N.C., will have 19 entries each.

Other Bates highlights from the non-scoring meet on Saturday included:

Junior Tara Ellard (Brewster, Mass.) took over the lead in the 5,000 meters and then held off a late charge from Trinity's Julia Burdulis, pulling away down the stretch to win in 18:05.65, cutting 5.22 seconds off of her previous PR of 18:10.87.
Sophomore Rowan Hassman (Coppell, Texas) finished second out of eight runners in the 3,000-meter steeplechase in 11:45.59, just 2.41 seconds out of first place and well ahead of her previous personal-best time of 12:37.26. Sophomore Jordan Wilson (Medfield, Mass.) was third in 11:51.12, also a personal best.
Sophomore Megan Lacey (Braxton, Miss.) was third out of seven in the long jump with a personal-best mark of 16'7.75", which moves her into Bates' top 10 all-time performance list in the event in ninth place.
Senior Ellie Strauss (Port Matilda, Pa.) came in second among eight competitors in the javelin throw with a top effort of 115'7", slightly shy of her PR from a week ago.
Sophomore Jillian Richardson (Auburn, Maine) placed third in the 5,000 meters in 18:16.20.
Senior Vanessa Paolella (Dingmans Ferry, Pa.) placed eighth out of 21 runners in the 1,500 meters, finishing in 4:56.41.
Senior Genesis Paulino (Lawrence, Mass.) was third out of eight competitors in the discus throw (110'8"), and fifth in both the hammer throw (128'3") and shot put (31'8.5").
Junior Mary Corcoran (Brookline, Mass.) placed sixth out of nine competitors in the 400-meter dash with a new personal-record time (1:01.73).
First-year Maddie Lee (Providence, R.I.) placed fourth out of eight in the 400-meter hurdles (1:08.37).