Princeton University Athletics
Princeton University
Heptagonals
Players Mentioned
Banfich & Women's Cross Country Third at Heps
October 29, 2011 | Women's Cross Country, Women's Track and Field
PRINCETON, N.J. (10/29/11) - Senior Alex Banfich finished third to guide the Princeton women's cross country team to a third-place finish at the 2011 Ivy League Heptagonal Championship on Saturday, Oct. 29 at West Windsor Fields.
Princeton had its five-year Ivy League run ended on its home course as Cornell won the title for the first time since 1998. The No. 25-ranked Big Red posted a team score of 49, just two points ahead of Columbia. Princeton finished with 94 points to take third, followed by Yale (104), Dartmouth (119), Harvard (129), Brown (153) and Penn (226).The 2010 individual champion Banfich finished in third place covering the course in 22:04.9 to earn first-team All-Ivy League honors for the fourth straight season. Junior Greta Feldman was the second Tiger across the line at 22:40.2 for 15th. Junior Alexis Mikaelian was 23rd at 22:57.4, followed by sophomore Molly Higgins in 24th place at 22:59.1. Sophomore Marisa Cummings rounded out the scorers running 23:09.6 to take 29th.
It will go down in history as one of the wildest Ivy League Heptagonal Championships ever. A nor'easter hit the area and after a morning of rain and hail, it was snowing by the time the women's 6k race started at noon. The wind was intense, blowing the precipitation sideways into the runners' eyes making it difficult to see the course, which was a mixture of mud and slush.
Princeton, which is receiving votes in the national poll, will compete at the NCAA Mid-Atlantic Regional in Princess Anne, Md., on Saturday, Nov. 12. The top two teams will earn automatic bids to the NCAA Championships.
Princeton Finishers
3. Alex Banfich 22:04.9
15. Greta Feldman 22:40.2
23. Alexis Mikaelian 22:57.4
24. Molly Higgins 22:59.1
29. Marisa Cummings 23:05.2
32. Jackie Nicholas 23:09.6
35. Clare Gallagher 23:11.8
44. Andrea Keklak 23:28.3
49. Mel Newbery 23:43.3
74. Rachel Skokowski 24:26.1
81. Abby Hewitt 24:56.1
89. Emily de la Bruyere 25:29.2