NEW LONDON, N.H. – The Colby-Sawyer indoor track & field team are eager for the 2023-24 season to get underway with their first full indoor season under head coach Ryan Purrington.
 
The Purrington Era
The Chargers men's team will look to continue a strong presence in the Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) after a third-place finish at the conference championship last season. The women are also eager to kick start the new year after capturing third place during last year's championship. At the end of the 2022-23 season, the Chargers were highlighted by senior Chase Adams (Brookline, N.H.) securing the title of GNAC Men's Track Athlete of the Year and senior Ashley Keleher (Mashpee, Mass.) tabbing the GNAC Women's Track Athlete of the Year.
 
"Going into indoor season this year we are really excited to compete and join the NEICA Championships," said head coach Purrington. "As a group we are looking forward to building a really good culture with really strong leaders – we have a fantastic group of captains who have done a great job preparing and stepping into this role."
 
"The coaching staff we have this year is simply incredible, Al does just about everything for us and is just super pumped to be here, D'Mahl brings about huge technical knowledge and has the awesome ability to be able to calm just about anyone's nerves going into an event, and Kendra has the element of strength and conditioning she brings to the table for our team!"
 
THE LEADERS:
Senior Chase Adams (Brookline, N.H.), junior Jordan Kofos (Kittery, Maine), junior Martin Steucek (Ashburnham, Mass.) and senior Jesse Gushee (West Linn, Ore.) will lead the men's team for the indoor season.
 
Adams had an incredibly successful junior campaign for the Chargers being named the 2022-23 Indoor & Outdoor GNAC (Men's) Track Athlete of the Year. Adams finished the year with 19 top-three finishes, and earned a first, second and third place finish at the GNAC Indoor Championships in the 60-meter hurdle, 4x400 meter relay and a bronze in the 200-meter dash.
 
"Heading into senior year we have a good mix of ages on the team this year, and the main goal for everyone is to stay healthy and to see a lot of PRs," said the captain. "I am personally hoping to PR and break my own record in the 60-meter hurdles and break the record for the 4x400 this season!"
 
Kofos registered six top-three finishes for the Chargers in the 2022-23 season, earning a gold in the distance medley relay at the GNAC Indoor Championships. The junior added two more medals for the Chargers in the GNAC Outdoor Championships.
"Expectations for the year is looking forward to the new group we have this year," said the junior captain. "We are looking forward to strong performances and doing our best at GNACs!"
 
The women's team will be led by senior Ashley Keleher (Mashpee, Mass.) and junior Tessa Millette (Barrington, N.H.).
 
"We have a ton of upperclassmen on the squad this year with a ton of strong leadership skills," said Keleher. "Our coaching staff push us very hard in practice while keeping it fun, they are invested in our individual performances which keeps us as good as we are!"
 
NEW ADDITIONS:
Coach Purrington welcomes multiple first years for both squads with a few returners from the cross-country teams.

On the men's side, first year's Cameron Cook, Ben LaPlume, and Tyler Milardo-Denler will join the team while also adding junior Cross Sierra.

On the women's team, the Chargers will add first years Hannah Catanzaro, Maisy Hill, and Marisa Lampert while also adding sophomore Leah O'Neill.
 
WHAT TO KNOW:
The Chargers have a total of nine regular season meets in the indoor season, which will start on December 2^nd at Suffolk University. 

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