NewsBreak Original

After a two-year hiatus because of the pandemic, the Penn Relays are back. The world’s largest track and field meet brings together the best athletes from around the globe. This year’s event will be even more special because it is taking place at a time when people are eager to come together and celebrate athleticism and competition.

Student athletes at the Tufts Branwen Smith-King Invitational are pictured on Jan. 30, 2022.Courtesy Hannah Neilon. On Sunday, men’s track and field sent squads to compete at both the Boston University-hosted John Thomas Terrier Classic and the Tufts-hosted Branwen Smith-King Invitational. Two days prior, on Friday, the women competed on a separate day of the John Thomas Terrier Classic at BU.

The Tufts National Qualifying Meet in Gantcher on March 7, 2020 is pictured.Ann Marie Burke / The Tufts Daily Archives. The Tufts’ track and field team extended its winning season on Friday, Jan. 21, when the team placed first out of seven teams at the Lyons Invitational at Wheaton College. The Jumbo men racked up 165 points, crushing their opponents while the women scored 172.5 points, defeating their closest competition by nearly 80 points.

The Tufts softball team plays Bowdoin on Apr. 17, 2021.Lydia Richardson / The Tufts Daily. Despite the challenges that Tufts sport teams have faced throughout the last two years, trying to compete and practice during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Jumbos have shown resilience and patience. Not only have our athletes survived, but they have thrived. Many spring sports, including softball and lacrosse, achieved tremendous success at the NESCAC and national levels last year. Now, with relatively fewer COVID-19 restrictions, here are what spring sports at Tufts will be up to this season.