Jumbos Lead in Three Events at Women's Track & Field Wheaton Post-Season Qualifier

NORTON, MA (February 21, 2026) - Juniors Emma Gall, Jackie Wells and Kaya West had the top marks in their events to lead the Tufts women's indoor track & field team at the Wheaton Post-Season Qualifier on Saturday.

West topped a field of 29 runners to win the 800 meters today. Her 2:16.92 time was the best mark of the year for the Jumbos in the 800 and is her PR. Converted from the flat track at Wheaton to a banked-track time for national-ranking purposes, it's a 2:15.36 that puts West into the DIII top 50.

Wells launched the best shot put mark of her career with a 12.71m (41'8 ½") to win the event. Her PR and team-best distance for the year also gave her the #5 ranking at Tufts all-time. Sophomore Julia Saporito was the runner-up in the shot, with her PR of 12.03m (39'5 ¾"). That also lands her in the Tufts top 10.
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Tufts had the top two in the pole vault as well. Gall won and first-year Elena Clark was second. Gall's winning height was 3.65m (11'11 ¾"), while Clark had her season-best with a 3.50m (11'5 ¾") which ties her for fifth at Tufts all-time.

Junior Nora Jean-Jacques added a runner-up performance in the triple jump where her 10.88m (35'8 ½") distance was her indoor PR. She also had Tufts' top mark in the long jump at 4.73m (15'6 ¼").

Junior Ceci LaBarge's 15.48m (50'9 ½") weight throw placed third out of 13 competitors today. Junior Nicole Kuhl was right behind her in fourth place (14.13m - 46'4 ¼"). Junior Britney Lu recorded a PR for the second straight week in the weight throw, going 11.86m (38'11") today. Lu also had her shot put indoor PR this afternoon (10.15m - 33'3 ¾").

Junior Sonia Olson led five Jumbos in the mile run at Wheaton with her 5:18.94 time that was third out of 20 runners. Among the others, senior Vivian Lau hit her PR with a 5:23.95 finish that placed eighth. Junior Taylor Neldner was fourth in the mile (5:19.68). In the 3000 meters, senior Eliana Montgomery PR'd with a 10:50.60 finish that was fourth in the race.

Among other PR's hit by the Jumbos today, senior Julia Dolce had her indoor career-best in the 800 (2:18.24), senior Amelie Wickham hit her pole vault PR at 3.35m (10'11 ¾") and senior Gwenyth Stach ran 10:57.23 for her 3000 meters PR. Other good finishes included a fourth by sophomore Logan Elie in the 800 (2:25.22). Sophomore Mia Kurtz also took fourth in the shot put (11.21m - 36'9 ½").

Tufts will be at the New England Division III Women's Indoor Track & Field Championships next weekend. The three-day event runs Friday through Sunday (Feb. 27 - Mar. 1) at The TRACK at New Balance in Boston.