Princeton University Athletics
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Men's Track & Field Takes Second at #IvyHeps
May 08, 2016 | Men's Track and Field
PRINCETON, N.J. (5/8/16) - Princeton entered the day two points out of first place from Cornell, 45-43. Each had a good number of qualifiers in the finals with the Big Red having 17 and the Tigers with 14.
With eight events remaining Princeton was just three points back but Cornell closed hard and took the meet 211-157.
The Tigers have either won or finished second at outdoor Heps every year for the last decade.
Senior Eddie Owens was third in the steeplechase at 8:55.43. He sat in fifth place for most of the race before he reached the back stretch of the final lap and cruised past two competitors and sailed across the line with a 1:05.690 in the final 400 for a time of 8:55.43, his fastest time in the steeple this season.
The 4x100 was next on the track it was an incredible performance by freshman Charles Volker, freshman Josh Billington, senior Daniel McCord and sophomore Carrington Akosa. The Tigers won the event for the first time since 2000 at 40.41.
ICYMI Check out this finish to the men's 4x100 pic.twitter.com/dwIGeqgDFC
— Princeton Tigers (@PUTIGERS) May 8, 2016
Princeton earned five more points in the 1500 with sophomore Garrett O'Toole finishing fourth at 3:57.40 and senior Luke Brahm sixth at 3:58.22.
Princeton took an 18-points lead over Cornell after a 1-2 finish in the shot put. Junior Chris Cook was the champion with a throw of 17.79 ((58-4.50) on his fourth attempt. His third throw of 17.61 would have won him the event as well. Sophomore Mitchel Charles was the runner-up at 17.56 (57-7.50) with that coming on his third attempt. His first throw of 17.50 would have earned him second place though too. Cook and Charles went 1-2 in the shot put during indoor Heps.
Senior Greg Caldwell was fifth in the 110-meter hurdles at 14.35, an event Cornell won and to get within one point of the Tigers after 11 events scored.
Junior Ray Mennin was third in the 400 at 47.18.
The Big Red took the lead after the 400 and Princeton fought mightily throughout the rest of the afternoon to make up ground.
In the 100, Akosa took second place at 10.49 and Volker was third at 10.56. It was an all red & orange podium as Cornell went 1-4-5-6.
Sophomore Noah Kauppila took fourth in the 800 with a time of 1:50.41, while sophomore Josh Ingalls just missing a scoring spot at 1:51.86 for seventh place.
The next event was arguably the highlight of the day for the Tigers, the 400 hurdles. Four Tigers were in the finals, along with three from Dartmouth and one Cornell. At the finish junior Greg Leeper out kicked Max Hairston to take the win with a PR of 52.28 to 52.31. Sophomore Spencer Long was third at 52.95, senior Jordan Myers was fourth with a PR of 53.34 and freshman Christian Fryer-Davis was fifth at 53.60. The 22 points pushed Princeton within three.
ICYMI Watch this incredible 1-3-4-5 finish in the men's 400 hurdles pic.twitter.com/cupbWhWl9W
— Princeton Tigers (@PUTIGERS) May 8, 2016
Akosa ran a PR of 21.09 to take third in the 200.
Junior Xavier Bledsoe finished in a three-way tie in the high jump. He cleared 2.11 (6-11) to earn six points in the event.
The Tigers grabbed three points in the triple jump from freshman Stefan Amokwandoh and sophomore Lane Russell. Amokwandoh jumped 15.08 (49-5.75) on his fourth attempt and also found 15.00, 14.81 and 14.73. Russell made a triumphant return after missing the majority of the season to score. He leapt to 14.79 (48-6.25) on his third attempt, and also reached 14.58, 14.61 and 14.76.
The 4x800 finished in second place at 7:28.75. Freshman Franklin Aririguzoh led off with a 1:53.90 and was followed by O'Toole at 1:52.35. Kauppila took the third leg at 1:51.48 and Brahm closed with a 1:50.99.