Tsoni breaks Lyons' long jump record at Tufts Cupid Challenge

Ioanna Tsoni, shown competing in the triple jump earlier this season, set Mount Holyoke's indoor long jump record at 17 feet and 11 inches at the Tufts Cupid Challenge on Feb. 3, 2024. (RJB Sports file photo)

MEDFORD, Mass. -- First-year Ioanna Tsoni broke the team record in the long jump to highlight a day of outstanding performances for Mount Holyoke College track and field Saturday at the Tufts Cupid Challenge, a non-scoring meet featuring 16 teams at Gantcher Field House.

Tsoni (Athens, Greece) sailed 5.46 meters, or 17 feet and 11 inches, on her second attempt of the day, to pass the former Lyons team record of 5.36 meters set by Grace Zeigler in 2007. That stood as the best effort by anyone in the event, giving Tsoni first place among 30 competitors. She also placed fifth out of 18 competitors in the 60-meter hurdles, with a finals time of 9.29 seconds. Tsoni set Mount Holyoke's team record in the hurdles two weeks ago, at 9.17 seconds.

Other highlights for the Lyons included:

Junior Kim Beaver (Agawam, Mass.) entered Mount Holyoke's all-time top 10 performance list in the 600 meters in fifth place with her time of 1:44.66, 12th-fastest out of 23 runners.
Junior Tessa Lancaster (Mansfield, Mass.) ran a flat-track personal-record time of 10:26.95 in the 3,000 meters, fifth fastest out of 35 runners and qualifying Lancaster for the New England Division III Championships.
Sophomore Elle Rimando (Mililani, Hawaii) placed ninth out of 46 competitors in the 60-meter dash, in 8.28 seconds, and 10th out of 30 in the long jump (4.99 meters/16'4.5").
Junior Aria Mallare (Chicago, Ill.) was 10th out of 46 sprinters in the 60-meter dash (8.29 seconds), 19th fastest out of 46 competitors in the 200 meters (28.51), and 12th out of 30 in the long jump (4.92 meters/16'1.75").
Junior Greta Trapp (La Crosse, Wis.) ran a 5:29.16 mile to place 13th out of 42 competitors, putting her less than three seconds outside of Mount Holyoke's all-time top 10 in the event. Also running personal-record times in the event were junior Olivia Johnson (Mount Desert, Maine) at 5:43.86 and first-year Anita Konopka (Rolling Meadows, Ill.) at 6:07.00.
Senior Bridget Hall (Arlington, Mass.) ran a personal-best 11:23.10 in the 3,000 meters, 18th out of 35. Sophomore Katie Earle (East Kingston, N.H.) also ran a PR in the event at 11:27.62.
Senior Erin Siegel (San Diego, Calif.) placed 31st out of 47 athletes in the shot put (8.33 meters) and 28th out of 46 in the weight throw (10.00 meters) to lead the Lyons' throwers in both events.