Princeton University Athletics
Indoor Track and Field Gears Up for Heptagonal Championships
February 21, 2002 | Men's Track and Field
Feb. 21, 2002
Princeton, N.J. - Both the men's and women's indoor track teams are headed to Ithaca, N.Y. this weekend to compete in the 2002 Indoor Heptagonal Championships. The men enter the meet as the four-time defending champions and will look to capture their fifth consecutive title. The women enter the meet having placed sixth at last year's championships.
Tora Harris will attempt to capture his fourth indoor heptagonal title, seventh overall in the men's high jump. Last year, Harris was named Most Outstanding Performer of the meet and established himself as one of the premier athletes in the nation when he place fourth at the outdoor NCAA Championships with a 7'-4 1/4" jump, earning All-America honors. This season, Harris has already automatically qualified for the Indoor NCAA Championship clearing 7' 4-1/2". He holds both the indoor and outdoor Princeton record.
Senior captain Lauren Simmons is the runner to beat in the 800m run. She has the League's best time (2:07.82) this winter. That mark is an NCAA provisional qualifier. She has the second fastest time in the league for the 400m (56.43). Her versatility and dominance in middle distance events allowed her to win the ECAC Athlete of the Week earlier this season. Sophomore Josh McCaughey is the HEPs record holder in the 35 lbs. weight throw (67-6 1/2) This season McCaughey's 69-6 1/4 placed him second to Manhattan's Thomas Freeman at the highly competitive Armory Invitational and made him a provisional qualifier for the NCAA championships. McCaughey set a new Princeton record with his performance.
Sophomore Susan Coltman comes into the meet as the leading Pentathlete in the League (3685). Coltman won the ECAC heptathlon title in last year's outdoor season.
Senior captain Ryan Smith and Junior David Dean both became NCAA provisional qualifiers when they both broke the existing Princeton 800m record while competing at Penn State earlier in the month. Ryan Smith set the new record (1:49.59) and Dean finished at 1:49.69.
Freshman Chanel Lattimer is the Tigers' top sprinter. She is ranked third in the 60m (7.74) and fourth in the 200m (25.42) in the League coming into the meet. Seniors Natalie Deffenbaugh and Catherine Casey and junior Sarah Rivlin will be expect to pick up points for the Tigers in the longer distances.
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