Hartford, Conn. – Trinity College women's track and field, under the direction of Head Coach John Michael Mason (3rd Season), will open the unique 2021 spring campaign with three consecutive quad meets against the Connecticut College Camels, the Tufts University Jumbos, and the Wesleyan University Cardinals. Senior captain Emma Buckley (Hanover, Mass.) provides leadership, along with classmates Julia Burdulis (Hopkinton, Mass.), Izzy Bruno (Winchester, Mass.), and Emma Sternberg (Plymouth, Minn.), as the Bantams get started on Saturday, April 17 at Connecticut College.
"We have a group that has worked hard with the hope of competing in a sport where motivation can be difficult without that actual competition," said Mason. "They have pushed each other despite all they have endured, and have certainly earned the right to go out and compete."
Buckley is a top-level sprinter who has numerous scoring performances individually and in relays under her belt, including record-setting times in the 4x100-, 4x200- and 4x400-meter relays. She was second in the 200-meter dash and collected United States Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) All-Region honors in the winter of 2019-20. Sophomore Julianna Kennedy (Andover, Mass.) looks to build on a promising rookie indoor season in 2019-20 that saw her earn All-New England with Buckley in the 4x400-meter relay, while first-years Sophia Jones (San Anselmo, Calif.) and Cate Kneebone (Winchester, Mass.) are also young Bantam sprinters ready to make their mark. Junior Mia Conte (Worcester, Mass.) adds to the deep cadre of Trinity athletes set to compete in the short distances.
Burdulis anchors the distance runners following a successful cross country career and a 2019-20 indoor track season. Sophomore middle-distance harrier Reagan Gillooly (Shrewsbury, Mass.) has made great strides since her rookie cross country and indoor campaigns last year, while Sternberg slides form the sprints to the longer distances and could be featured in the steeplechase in her final collegiate spring.
Bruno, Trinity's all-time record holder in the outdoor high jump, was a USTFCCCA All-Region selection and an NCAA National Qualifier as a sophomore in 2018-19, and looks to get back to that level in the upcoming outdoor season. Rookies Gabby Grattan (Milton, Mass.) and Kennedy Mullen (Wilder, Vt.) will both be factors in the jumps and other events for the Bantams this spring. Grattan will compete in the high jump and the hurdles, while Mullen will be in the triple jump and sprints. In the throws, sophomore Kamila Zygadlo (Wroclaw, Poland) has made great strides in the shot put, discus, and hammer. First-year Dahlia Galante (Marblehead, Mass.) shows potential in the javelin.
