Princeton University Athletics
Princeton University
Great Dane Classic
Players Mentioned
Middle Distance Corps Leads Princeton Women's Track to Fourth Place
January 23, 2009 | General, Women's Track and Field
NEW YORK (1/23/09) ? The Princeton women's track and field team finished in fourth place at the Great Dane Classic hosted by the University of Albany at The Armory in New York City. The Tigers earned 59.5 points to take fourth out of 30 teams.
Junior Reilly Kiernan and senior Jolee VanLeuven breezed by their competitors in the 3000, taking first and second place out of 29 runners. Kiernan clocked in at 9:38.74 with VanLeuven following at 9:46.97, both ECAC qualifying times.
Freshman Alex Banfich won the mile race with a first-place time of 4:56.26, ECAC qualifying time. Teammate Rachel Park also competed, crossing the tape at 5:31.40.
In the 1000 meter, sophomore Libby Bliss came in second place at 3:00.27. Senior Melissa Swigert earned a respectable seventh-place finish with a time of 3:03.56.
Freshman Danielle Glaeser took fourth in the 400 meter dash, and classmate Eileen Moran took 13th with times of 57.14 and 58.82, respectively.
Sophomore KC Wade, Hope Williams and freshman Melissa Tassone also competed in the preliminaries of the 55 meter dash and 55 meter hurdles. Wade went on to take fourth in the high jump, launching herself to a season-best 1.60 meters. Freshmen Michelle Yousefian and Sarah Houtmann also competed in the 400 and 200 meter, respectively.
Rounding out the track events was the 4x400 relay. The Tigers' team recorded a time of 3:58.98 for ninth place.
Freshman Jessica Kloss had another great outing in the pole vault event. Kloss had her best outing of the season, at 3.75 meters, for second place. Classmate Lydia Arias took sixth place with 3.60 meters. Both are within ECAC qualifying standards.
Junior Aundeah Kearney competed in the long jump and posted a length of 5.53 meters, while sophomore Thanithia Billings represented the Tigers in the shot put with a throw of 12.96 meters.
Billlings also competed in the weight throw, along with freshman Alyssa Pehmoeller and sophomore Emma Ruggiero. Pehmoeller had the best toss at 14.36 meters, while Ruggiero was at 14.01 and Billings at 12.69.
Next weekend, Jan. 30 and 31, Princeton will compete at the Penn State National Open.