Princeton University Athletics
Princeton University
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Women's Track & Field Wins Second Straight Indoor Heps Title
February 27, 2011 | Women's Track and Field
NEW YORK (2/27/11) - The Princeton women's track & field team is the 2011 Ivy League Champion. The Tigers won their second straight title and third in the last four years.
Princeton had the lead after day one and would maintain it through 12 events. Columbia would take over as the team leader after the 13th event of the day, the 200, 96-92. Princeton got back the lead in the next event, the 3000, earning 22 points while Columbia did not earn a single point as the Tigers led 114-96. Princeton would keep the lead for the final events.
It was Princeton's long distance trio of seniors Ashley Higginson, Sarah Cummings and junior Alex Banfich that would earn those 22 points after dominating the 5000 yesterday going 1-2-3. Higginson would become a double winner taking home victory in the 3000 at 9:26.32. Banfich was second at 9:27.77 and Cummings was fourth at 9:28.53. The trio were in the lead pack throughout the race. With five laps to go Banfich would take the lead. Higginson took over with three laps left with Banfich and Cummings following. Harvard's Claire Richardson pushed into the Princeton pack to finish third.
Sophomore Alexis Mikaelian was the first champion crowned on Sunday, winning the mile. She clocked in at 4:54.60, just edging Dartmouth's Arianna Vailas, who clocked in at 4:54.64. Mikaelian used a late push to win after sitting third for most of the race. Sophomore Mel Newbery was fourth at 4:55.29.
The 4x800 relay captured a win with a meet and Ivy League record. Greta Feldman, Molly Higgins, Kristin Smoot and Mikaelian ran in at 8:43.15, over a second ahead of Dartmouth in second place. In third, Princeton would take the lead in the second leg and maintained it. With two laps left Princeton and Dartmouth were neck and neck before Dartmouth took over with one lap to go. The Tigers gave final push to win the event. The relay erased a 24-year old record of 8:44.34 set by Yale in 1986.
Junior Eileen Moran posted second and third place finishes in the 60 and 200. Moran was the runner-up in the 60 sprinting in at 7.62. She placed third in the 200 at 24.41. In all Moran gave her team 14 points.
Senior Thanithia Billings was the runner up in the shot put throwing to 15.08 (49-5.75). Junior Isabell von Loga placed sixth with a throw of 13.55 (44-5.50) to earn an additional point in the event.
Also giving the Tigers a point was senior Lauren Barber in the 60-meter hurdles. She clocked in at 8.91 to finish sixth.
The 4x400 of Joie Hand, Jasmine Blocker, Danielle Glaeser and Moran finished fourth at 3:47.50. The relay was run in sections with Princeton winning the first section among Dartmouth, Brown and Yale. The time wouldn't be enough to win as Columbia, Cornell and Harvard would post faster times in the second section.
Princeton finished with 128 points, five ahead of Columbia's 123. Cornell was third with 87.66 points, followed by Brown with 50, Harvard with 48, Dartmouth with 39, Penn with 27.33 and Yale with 24.