After a promising start to the MIAA season, the Albion College women’s track and field team suffered its first conference loss to Hope College on April 12.

After the loss, many Britons wondered what the result would have been if the team was at full strength. The Britons were without many key contributors and just couldn’t stack up against the Flying Dutchmen.

"For us to have beaten Hope, we needed everyone healthy," said coach Hayden Smith. "We came close. If everyone was healthy, it would’ve been a different meet."

After losing to Calvin on Saturday, Albion seems destined to finish third in the MIAA—the same result as last year—unless it can get healthy and run past Hope at the league championships Albion hosts May 4-5.

The off-season was when the injuries started piling up.

"We tried to prepare by running (on) the indoor track," said pole vaulter J.Q. Williams, Plymouth sophomore. "The indoor track brought on new injuries that we weren’t prepared for."

Smith said that while the injuries hurt Albion’s chances of moving up in the MIAA, they strengthened the bonds between team members.

"We’ve had good depth and were able to overcome (injuries)," Smith said. "Front line people came down injured, but everyone stepped up to put us in position to be a solid third (in the league)."

The team relied on its strengths to finish 4-2 in league dual meets. Jenna Morse, Belding sophomore, has led a strong group of throwers who claimed first place in the shot put, discus and javelin at Albion’s first two double dual meets.

Smith also said the Britons have improved in the sprinting events.

"I think the team takes great pride in being good at what they do and being a stronger team," Smith said.

"We came together well as a team," Williams said. "The freshmen have been a help, as have all the classes."

Despite the reality that Albion will not likely improve on last year’s third-place finish, Smith is impressed by the progress the Britons have made.