Princeton University Athletics
Men's Cross Country Preview 1999
September 01, 1999 | Men's Cross Country
Sept. 1, 1999
For the second consecutive year, the Princeton men's cross country team heads into its season as the defending Heptagonal triple crown champions. The Tigers followed up their 1997-98 history-making year with an encore performance. And with that, the 199 harriers are looking to make it an unprecedented seven consecutive Heps championships.
Paul Morrison returns for his sophomore season to lead the Tigers. Morrison was the top finisher in the NCAA Championships last November in Kansas (finishing 51st). Morrison finished sixth overall at last year's Heps, one of three Tigers in the top 10. The top Princeton runner from the Heps was captain Mike Spence. Spence finished in second place overall and is a seasoned veteran that will lead the Tigers along with the youthful Morrsion.
The schedule, as always, is a tough test. The Tigers kickoff the season with a dual meet against LaSalle on Sept. 17 and then will test their meddle at the Auburn Invitational, a nationally renown meet. The IC4A championship is a final tune up for Princeton's run at that seventh straight Heps title. Following the Heps, the Tigers, 1998 NCAA Mid-Atlantic Region II champions, will defend their title when they travlel to Bethlehem and Lehigh University. A return trip to the NCAA's awaits the top two finishing teams at regionals. Having qualified for NCAA's with young teams the past two years, Princeton is excited for its upcoming season, and rightfully so.