College Notebook: DiMaiti twins continuing their success in college

Andrew and Carol DiMaiti are no strangers to big-time competition. They were both three-sport athletes at St. Mary?s, but they dominated the track above all else. After graduating in 2014, the DiMaiti twins went their separate ways to compete at the college level. Andrew went to Tufts University, while Carol decided to run for Merrimack College.
They have both already enjoyed some success in their young college careers, but there is still plenty to build on. Carol is still regaining her old form after a devastating anterior cruciate ligament tear in her senior soccer season and is emerging as one of the better runners on the team. Andrew is running indoor track for the first time, and also learning to compete in new events.
?I miss hockey, but I?ve really enjoyed indoor track,” Andrew said. “The team atmosphere is great and my teammates have helped me a lot.”
Andrew went to Tufts with high expectations after a stellar high school career. He was the Catholic Center League champion in outdoor track in both the 200- and 400-meter hurdles in 2013, as well as the MIAA Division 4 champion in the 400-meter hurdles. The two-year captain also placed second in the outdoor state championships in the 400-meter hurdles in 2014 after an undefeated season in the CCL.
He then burst onto the college scene in indoor track with a win at the Tufts Invitational in the 400 meters with a time of 50.35 seconds. He then went on to break the freshman record in the 400 meters with a time of 49.49 in a meet at Boston University.
He was also placed on the 4×400-meter relay team, a new event for him.
?I really love the team,” he said. “It?s a new event for me and the guys have been awesome.”
The relay team placed fourth at the Open New Englands with a time of 3 minutes, 15.32 seconds, breaking the Tufts? team record.
The team is heading to Winston-Salem, N.C., for the 2015 NCAA Division III Men?s and Women?s Indoor Track and Field Championships on Friday and Saturday.
?I can?t wait,” Andrew said. “We?ve really done well this year and our work is paying off.”
Carol has had her own great start to her college career at Merrimack. A four-time CCL all-star in track at St. Mary?s, as well as a terrific soccer player, Carol suffered a terrible ACL injury in a soccer game her senior year, effectively ending her high school career.
?At first, I was nervous that I wouldn?t be able to run again,” Carol said.
But she kept working at her rehab, and eventually her strength began to return.
?I feel great,” she said. “I feel like my hard work has really paid off after my surgery.”
She showed off that hard work at the Bowdoin Invitational on Jan. 24, finishing fourth in the 60-meter dash with a time of 8.24 seconds.
Like her brother, she is also learning to compete in a new event. She has been taking reps in the pole vault to gear up for the outdoor track season.
There?s no doubt that the DiMaiti twins have had stellar high school careers on the track. And it?s now beginning to look like they will both thrive on the college track as well.
News and notes
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