Princeton University Athletics
Players Mentioned
Heptagonals Take Center Stage This Weekend in New York
February 23, 2007 | Men's Track and Field, Women's Track and Field
One of the most historic collegiate track meets visits one of the nation's top track & field venues when the Ivy League Heptagonal Indoor Track & Field Championships visit the New Balance Track & Field Center at the Armory in New York City Saturday and Sunday.
The Princeton men have finished either first or second at the meet in each of the last 13 seasons, while the Tiger women are looking for their first indoor Heps title since 1998. Both Tiger teams won the first Heps championship of the season when both the men's and women's cross country teams won the conference meet in October at Van Cortlandt Park in the Bronx.
On the men's side, two of the runners who helped lead the Tigers to that cross country title are also favorites on the track. Sophomore Michael Maag and junior David Nightingale have the top two Ivy times in the mile so far this season, while Nightingale, last year's 3,000-meter champion, nearly broke the eight-minute mark in that race this season for the top time among league runners.
Princeton also has a standout heptathlete in Duane Hynes, who exploded for a 5,640-point performance in that event in January, a personal best and one of the top performances in the nation so far this year. Hynes will also be a factor in the long jump at Heps.
The Tigers also have strong candidates in the field events in sophomore Alex Pessala, who won the indoor Heps weight throw as a freshman, and pole vaulter Andrew Park, whose clearance or more than 17 feet last weekend at Jadwin Gym was a provisional NCAA qualifier and well ahead of any of his competitors at this weekend's meet.
On the women's side, the Tigers can certainly count on those cross country standouts to give head coach Peter Farrell's team a leg up in the distance events. Sophomore Jolee VanLeuven, seniors Catha and Caroline Mullen and freshman Liz Costello are among a large group that could be a factor anywhere from the mile to the 5,000 meters.
Princeton's relays also have a chance to give the Tigers valuable points at the meet. Sprinter Agatha Offorjebe had a strong meet against Harvard and Yale two weeks ago at Jadwin Gym, a meet where the Tigers defeated both teams.
Events begin at 11 a.m. Saturday with the women's weight throw. Action continues until Sunday's 4:30 p.m. awards ceremony honors the 2007 team champions.
The place to go to keep informed on results as they happen and other happenings at this year's championship is The Relays Zone, the official blog of the meet provided by IvyLeagueSports.com.