Princeton University Athletics
Players Mentioned
Nine Qualify for NCAA East Regional in Women's Track & Field
May 19, 2011 | Women's Track and Field
PRINCETON, N.J. (5/19/11) - Nine members of the Princeton women's track & field team will participate in the 2011 NCAA East Regional it was announced by the NCAA on Thursday, May 19. The East Regional will be held in Bloomington, Ind., on the campus of Indiana University on May 26-28.
Competing in their first NCAA Outdoor are sophomores Alexis Mikaelian and Greta Feldman. The duo will run in the 1500 on Thursday at 4:30 p.m. The top five from each of the four heats, plus the next four best times advance to the quarterfinals on Saturday. Mikaelian's time of 4:20.79 is 16th and Feldman's 4:21.29 is 18th. Both times were recorded at Heps.
Junior Alex Banfich will compete in her second straight 5,000. She reached the finals last year, finishing eighth in the nation. Banfich ranks 16th in the region at 16:14.75 at Mt. Sac but has a PR 14 seconds faster than that time. Her race is on Saturday at 8:05 p.m.
Fellow distance runner, senior Sarah Cummings will take on the 10,000 for the third straight year. She is 24th in the region with a time of 34:44.45 from the Sam Howell Invitational, but boasts a PR of 33:55.00 in the event. Cummings was an All-America in the event in 2009. The 10k will be run on Thursday at 8:30 p.m., with the top 12 advancing.
With a stunning third-place finish in the steeplechase last year, senior Ashley Higginson is back to take on the event again. She ranks 14th in the region with a time of 10:19.74 from Heps, the only time she has competed in the event this year. The steeplechase is slated for Friday at 8:30 p.m., with top five from each of the two heats plus the next two best times advancing.
Seasoned throwers Thanithia Billings and Emma Ruggiero look to break into the finals in their final year. Billings will throw the shot put on Friday at 1 p.m., while Ruggiero takes on the hammer throw at 11 a.m., on Thursday. Billings ranks 28th with a mark of 15.37 while Ruggiero is 15th at 59.23. Both were recorded at Heps and are PRs.
Sophomore Tory Worthen will take on the pole vault for the second straight season. She cleared 4.01 meters at the Larry Ellis Invitational to rank 20th in the region. The top 12 will advance to the Championships in Iowa. The qualifying round of the pole vault will be held on Thursday at 6 p.m.
Competing in her first post season is freshman Imani Oliver. A triple jumper, Oliver qualified for the regionals with a PR jump of 12.49 meters at Heps. The triple jump will begin at 1 p.m., on Friday.
Princeton leads all Ivy League schools in qualified student-athletes with 23 total from both the men's and women's teams.