MHC Track & Field athletes break personal records at Amherst Spring Fling

By Kate Vavra ’26

Sports Editor

Tessa Lancaster ’25 and Greta Trapp ’25 both ran personal best career times at the Amherst College Spring Fling on April 7, while Em Tetzlaff ’26 secured a career-best throwing distance. 

Lancaster won second place out of 18 runners in the 5000-meter run with 17 minutes, 49.91 seconds. In doing so, Lancaster broke their personal record by a full 36.08 seconds. This accomplishment puts them in second place on Mount Holyoke College’s all-time performance list for the 5000-meter run. The only Lyon whom Lancaster stands behind is their former teammate, Lauren Selkin ’22. Selkin holds the record at 17 minutes, 40.59 seconds. 

Trapp ’26 beat her previous record in the 1500-meter run by 8.20 seconds. This new record placed them only 2.15 seconds outside of Mount Holyoke’s all-time top 10 list for this event. Trapp finished 22nd out of 46 runners at Amherst. 

The Lyons succeeded at Amherst in other events as well. Tetzlaff led the four hammer throwers while securing a personal record of 31.34 meters. 

Elle Rimando ’26 placed sixth out of 20 athletes in the long jump at 5.05 meters. This accomplishment marked their outdoor collegiate debut and landed them in fifth place on Mount Holyoke’s all-time performance list within the event. 

Kim Beaver ’25 finished seventh out of 21 runners in the 800-meter run with a time of 2 minutes, 22.02 seconds. This is their second-fastest time in their collegiate career. 

Additionally, Lize Brown ’25 led Mount Holyoke in shot put, discus and javelin, with 8.53, 26.6 and 23.31 meters, respectively. 

Evelyn Bushway ‘24 spoke to the positive atmosphere within the team. 

“I have really enjoyed how welcoming the team has been to me as an athlete who became a dual sport athlete last year,” Bushway said. “I am a life-long swimmer that decided to really try my hand at throwing events as it was something that I had wanted to do for a couple of years prior to starting my junior year. Now, as a senior who is student teaching this spring, I love spending time practicing with my teammates and getting to be around my peers.” 

The Lyons will compete next at Westfield State University on Saturday, April 20.