Princeton University Athletics
Princeton University
Ivy League Heptagonals
Players Mentioned
Costello Leads Women's Cross Country to Ivy League Title
October 31, 2008 | Women's Cross Country
NEW YORK, N.Y. (10/31/08) ? The Princeton men and women's cross country teams have brought Princeton its first Ivy League titles of the 2008-09 academic year, winning the Ivy League Heptagonals on Friday, Oct. 31 at Van Cortlandt Park. The victories were the third straight by both squads.
The women's team posted a championship best score of 17, taking first, second, third, fifth and sixth, crushing the previous best by six points.
Junior Liz Costello won her second straight individual crown, winning the event in a record time. She crossed the line at 16:59.9, the fastest time in championship history. Senior Megan Brandeland was the runner-up, clocking in 34.9 seconds behind Costello at 17:34.8. The times are the widest winning margin in event history.
Junior Reilly Kiernan claimed third place with a time of 17:36.3. Junior Alexa Glencer covered the course in 17:34.4, and sophomore Sarah Cummings at 17:44.0, for fifth and sixth place, respectively. Senior Jolee Van Leuven placed seventh with a time of 17:47.2.
All of the aforementioned Tigers earned first-team all-Ivy League status. Earning second-team all-Ivy are sophomores Ashley Higginson, Liz Deir and freshman Alex Banfich, finishing ninth, 10th and 11th. Higginson crossed the line at 17:58.2, Dier at 17:57.3 and Banfich at 17:58.2.
Also competing for Princeton was sophomore Brook Russell who clocked in at 18:40.6, and freshman Rachel Park at 22:04.8
Behind Princeton in second place was Columbia, followed by Brown in third place. Cornell, Harvard, Penn, Dartmouth and Yale, rounded out the bottom five.
The win is Princeton's sixth Ivy League Heptagonal title.
The Tigers, ranked No. 4 in the nation, host the NCAA Mid-Atlantic Regional on Saturday, Nov. 15.
Princeton Finishers
1. Liz Costello (16:59.9)
2. Megan Brandeland (17:34.8)
3. Reilly Kiernan (17:36.3)
5. Alexa Glencer (17:43.4)
6. Sarah Cummings (17:44.0)
7. Jolee Van Leuven (17:47.2)
9. Ashley Higginson (17:55.5)
10. Liz Deir (17:57.3)
11. Alex Banfich (17:58.2)
33. Brooke Russell (18:40.6)
88. Rachel Park (22:04.8)