In sports, the number three is special. A hat trick signifies three goals in soccer and hockey, a triple-double is one of the greatest statistical accomplishments in one game of basketball, and rarest of all is the triple crown.
The triple crown signifies leading the NFL in receptions, receiving yards and receiving touchdowns. Or in horse racing, it means winning the Kentucky Derby, the Preakness Stakes and the Belmont Stakes.
But in the case of the Washington and Lee women’s track and field team, the triple crown is winning Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) championships in cross country, indoor track and field, and outdoor track and field. Last season, the Generals won the program’s first triple crown and after conference championships in cross country and indoor track and field, they are an outdoor championship away from repeating their feat.
“To do something as a team that had never been done before, not once, but two years in a row, sets a high bar for the program and establishes a new tradition to aspire to,” said Julie Anne Bush, ’28.
In the fall, the Generals women’s cross country team took care of business, winning the ODAC championship by 21 points. And during Washington Break, the indoor track and field team outperformed the runners-up by 82.5 points.
“Last year we graduated a lot of seniors who were not only very talented but were the backbone of the team,” said Mackenzie Morante, ’27. “Our goal was to win ODACs again, but to do that we needed to fill big shoes and come together as a team, and we did just that.”
Morante also mentioned the strength of this year’s first-year class.
“The freshmen handled the pressure of ODACs like seniors who had done it before,” she said. “Many of them were seeded to score us a lot of much-needed points, and they followed through for the team in such a collected way.”
Bush agreed. “We have such a talented freshman class that contributed a lot to our success both in terms of points scored at the meet and the overall competitive drive they bring to our team.”
Besides the freshmen class, Bush said she believes that the team’s well-rounded nature contributed to its success.
“We have a great balance with strong performances across all of the events: throws, jumps, sprints and distance,” Bush said.
In the weeks after ODACs, some members of the team travelled to Birmingham, Alabama. for the national championship. The Generals finished tied for 42nd out of 61 teams.
Heading into the outdoor season, nationals provided a morale boost for the team, Morante said.
“Outdoor is actually more fun, so it’s easier to stay motivated,” Morante said. “It’s at the end of our training ramp-up, so usually the hard work we’ve put in throughout the year pays off then. It doesn’t feel draining at all but actually very exciting.”
The team has already achieved a lot, Morante said, but they believe they are capable of more. Bush echoes this sentiment.
“We are all very excited,” she said. “The win definitely propels us into the outdoor season and ultimately towards another shot at the triple crown. We are continuing to build on our success.”
“I expect to see many more school records broken this outdoor season,” Morante said, “and that’s motivation enough.”
