Princeton University Athletics
Princeton University
Pre-Nationals Invitational
Players Mentioned
Women's Cross Country Wins Pre-Nationals
October 18, 2008 | Women's Cross Country
Women's Results at Pre-Nationals
Women's Results at Princeton Invitational
TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (10/18/08) ? The Princeton University cross country team finished in a first-place tie at the NCAA Pre-National Invitational on Saturday, Oct. 18 held at the LaVern Gibson Championship Cross Country Course.
Princeton finished first along with Florida State with 89 points, beating 40 other squads for the title. The Tigers are ranked No. 5 in the nation, while the Seminoles are No. 3. Seven other nationally-ranked teams competed in the White Race.
Leading the Tigers to victory was junior Liz Costello who clocked in at 20:24.1 for a fourth-place finish. Senior Megan Brandeland covered the course in 20:46.9 to take 14th. Sophomore Ashley Higginson and freshman Alex Banfich finished back-to-back in 21st and 22nd place with times of 20:56.3 and 20:57.4, respectively. Junior Reilly Kiernan gave the Tigers its final score, bringing in a time of 21:02.1 for 28th place.
Costello, Brandeland, Higginson and Kiernan all posted personal bests for the course, while Kiernan's time and Banfich's time are personal best times overall.
Senior Jolee VanLeuven and sophomore Sarah Cummings also raced for Princeton. VanLeuven crossed the line in 32nd place with a time of 21:05.8, while Cummings came in at 21:36.0 for 70th place.
While the rest of the Princeton
women's cross country team was winning the Pre-Nationals in Indiana,
sophomore Brooke Russell and senior Melissa Swigert were representing
the Tigers at the Princeton Invitational.
Russell earned a fifth-place finish at the home meet with a time of 22:26.70. Swigert clocked in at 23:50.80 for 55th place.
Maryland was the event with a low score of 36, followed by Bucknell in
second place, and Duquesne in third place. The Terrapins had the top
two times of the morning with Erin Matyus' time of 22:02.50 and Kristin
Reed's 22:11.0. UMBC's Sara Parkinson finished third at 22:13.50
The squad will be back in action on Friday, Oct. 31 when they compete for their third straight Ivy League title at Heptagonals in New York.
Princeton Scores (Pre-Nationals)
4. Liz Costello 20:24.1*
14. Megan Brandeland 20:46.9*
21. Ashley Higginson 20:56.3*
22. Alex Banfich 20:57.4#
28. Reilly Kiernan 21:02.1*#
32. Jolee VanLeuven 21:05.8
70. Sarah Cummings 21:36.0
* personal best for the course
# personal best
Princeton Scores (Princeton Invitational)
5. Brooke Russell 22:26.70
55. Melissa Swigert 23:50.80