MIDDLEBURY — The Middlebury College men’s and women’s track and field teams on Saturday won their first meets held in the new Virtue Field House at the Middlebury Winter Classic. The Panther men scored 260 points, 111 points ahead of second-place Springfield, while the women tallied 257.5 points, ahead of Springfield’s 216.5. The meet also featured Castleton and Hamilton.
On the men’s side, the Panthers picked up nine victories, including six individuals on the track: Alex Nichols in the 200-meter dash (23.15), Jimmy Martinez in the 400-meter dash (50.60), Andrew Michelson at 1,000 meters (2:40.7). Kevin Serrao in mile (4:26.38), Brian Rich at 3,000 meters (8:59.14), and Tyler Farrell in the 60-meter hurdles (8.76).
The Panther 4×400 relay of Farrell, Nichols, Brandon Cushman and Martinez won in 3:29.76.
Off the track, John Natalone cleared the bar at 14’5.25” to win the pole vault, while Daniel Plunkett won the shot put with a toss of 46’2.75”.
The Panther women won eight events. Robin Vincent won both the 1,000-meter run (3:05.40) and the mile (5:13.33), while Alexandra Morris took the 400-meter dash (58.00).
Other victories came from Lucy Lang at 500 meters (1:17.55), Isabella Alfaro at 800 meters (2:26.02) and Adrian Walsh in the 3,000 (10:25.83).
The 4×400 relay of Morris, Lang, Fernandez and Halle Gustafson posted the winning time of 4:04.97, while Kreager Taber won the pole vault at 10’6”.
 
   MIDDLEBURY COLLEGE ALUM Dan Bent takes a leap into the sand in the long jump competition at the Middlebury Winter Classic this past Saturday. The 2013 graduate jumped 5.25 meters, which would have been good enough for 9th place if he had been an undergraduate.
Independent photos/Trent Campbell