Sunday, February 26
Hanover, N.H.
10:00 AM
Princeton University
vs
Ivy League Heptagonal Championships
Men's Track and Field Captures Eighth Straight Indoor Ivy League Championship
February 26, 2023 | Men's Track and Field
Hanover, N.H. – The Princeton Men's Track and Field Team has been crowned Indoor Ivy League Heptagonal Champions for the eighth consecutive time, following their performances this weekend in the Leverone Field House at Dartmouth College.
The Tiger men scored 164 points to take the 2023 title at a championship meet that came down to the very last event -- Princeton's second-pace finish in the 4x400 relay providing enough points for the Tigers to outlast Harvard by one point.
Head coach, Fred Samara, commented on this weekend's Ivy League victory, "I told the team at our meeting after the first day, 'If we are in it going into the relays, we are going to win it'. I told them to remember what Yogi Berra said, 'It ain't over till it's over.' This year's Indoor Championship may be the most satisfying win of my career considering all of the very talented guys we had out with various injuries. All of the credit positively goes to the team for their belief and never give up attitude."
In a razor-thin meet, the fate of the Ivy League Championship came down to the relays, and after strong performances from the DMR and the 4x800 gave the Tigers a three-point lead with one event to go.
The 4x400 team of Joey Gant, William Doyle, Ibrahim Ayorinde, and Anderson Dimon were able to rise to the occasion to put down the seventh-best 4x400 time (3:12.39) in school history and finish second which secured enough team points to stave off the Crimson who won the 4x400.
1. Princeton — 164 points
2. Harvard — 163 points
3. Cornell — 109 points
4. Brown — 48 points
5. Columbia — 39 points
6. Yale — 36 points
7. Dartmouth — 34 points
8. Penn — 27 points
Not only did the men close out the weekend with the big trophy, but the team also earned first place finishes in seven different events.
Phil Kastner was a force in the Heptathlon, and his efforts earned him an Ivy title. Kastner took a first-place finish in four events including the 60m (7.03), the long jump (7.29m), the shot put (13.62), and the 60m hurdles (8.17) to ultimately take first in the Heptathlon with 5492 points.
Another Ivy champion was crowned within the mile race. Duncan Miller took a first-place finish within the mile, crossing the finish line at 4:02.88
Nicholas Bendsten finished in fourth place with a time of 4:04.23, Jack Stanley came in fifth at 4:04.23, and Myles Hogan took eighth place, crossing the finish line at 4:08.60.
The Men's 60m Dash resulted in another first place Tiger finish and Ivy League champion in Daniel Duncan. Duncan soared past his Ivy League opponents, to finish the race at 6.73. Ibrahim Ayorinde also took the podium at fifth place, to finish the 60m dash at 6.84.
Sam Rodman's performance in the 1000m run was a display of grit and resiliency. Rodman and Cornell's Damian Hackett ran an evenly matched race, but Rodman outlasted Hackett in the final 200 meters to take the first-place victory, finishing at 2:25.22.
Andersen Dimon soared in the men's 500m, finishing at 1:02.70 to take second place.
Within the men's triple jump, Greg Foster claimed a second-place finish with a 15.43m mark.
Ilay Furman also earned Tiger points placing sixth with a 14.76m leap.
Foster also impressed in the 60m hurdles, taking a fourth-place finish in the event with a time of 8.05.
Princeton also shined in the men's 200m with two, top-five finishes. Ibrahim Ayorinde took second place with a 21.50 finish, and Joey Gant claimed fourth with a time of 21.58.
A trio of Tigers had tremendous showings in the 800m. Ethan Reese placed second, (1:52.62) Jordan Kaplan took third (1:52.98), and Connor Chen finished in fifth (1:53 .77). The squad's performances helped Princeton to earn even more team points, in a tight, race for an Ivy League title.
Similarly, in the 5000m, Princeton's depth as a team was on full display. Two Tigers earned top six finishes, with Josh Zelek leading the pack to finish in third place (13:55.46), and Daniel O'Brien claiming sixth (14:01.51).
The Princeton DMR team of Nicholas Bendsten, Ladislav, Topfer, Jack Stanley, and Duncan Miller ran a hard-fought race to earn a second-place finish. Miller gave it his all as the Tiger anchor, to cross the finish line at 9:53.57.
Avery Shunneson was the top Tiger within the weight throw, taking an eighth-place finish with a 18.74m mark. John Hogan finished seventh in the high jump with 2.01m.
The Tiger men scored 164 points to take the 2023 title at a championship meet that came down to the very last event -- Princeton's second-pace finish in the 4x400 relay providing enough points for the Tigers to outlast Harvard by one point.
Head coach, Fred Samara, commented on this weekend's Ivy League victory, "I told the team at our meeting after the first day, 'If we are in it going into the relays, we are going to win it'. I told them to remember what Yogi Berra said, 'It ain't over till it's over.' This year's Indoor Championship may be the most satisfying win of my career considering all of the very talented guys we had out with various injuries. All of the credit positively goes to the team for their belief and never give up attitude."
In a razor-thin meet, the fate of the Ivy League Championship came down to the relays, and after strong performances from the DMR and the 4x800 gave the Tigers a three-point lead with one event to go.
The 4x400 team of Joey Gant, William Doyle, Ibrahim Ayorinde, and Anderson Dimon were able to rise to the occasion to put down the seventh-best 4x400 time (3:12.39) in school history and finish second which secured enough team points to stave off the Crimson who won the 4x400.
Men's Final StandingsNothing Beats that Championship Feeling!!!
— Princeton Track/XC (@PrincetonTrack) February 26, 2023
Congratulations to the 2023 Princeton Men's Track & Field Team for winning this years' Indoor Ivy League Championships!#IvyHeps | #GoTigers pic.twitter.com/SAa0QzyCgs
1. Princeton — 164 points
2. Harvard — 163 points
3. Cornell — 109 points
4. Brown — 48 points
5. Columbia — 39 points
6. Yale — 36 points
7. Dartmouth — 34 points
8. Penn — 27 points
Not only did the men close out the weekend with the big trophy, but the team also earned first place finishes in seven different events.
Phil Kastner was a force in the Heptathlon, and his efforts earned him an Ivy title. Kastner took a first-place finish in four events including the 60m (7.03), the long jump (7.29m), the shot put (13.62), and the 60m hurdles (8.17) to ultimately take first in the Heptathlon with 5492 points.
Another Ivy champion was crowned within the mile race. Duncan Miller took a first-place finish within the mile, crossing the finish line at 4:02.88
The remaining, Princeton mile runners also finished the race with admirable performances.Day 2 of Indoor #IvyHeps starts with a first place, Tiger finish!
— Princeton Track/XC (@PrincetonTrack) February 26, 2023
Duncan Miller takes first in the mile for the Princeton men with a time of 4:02.88!#IvyHeps | #GoTigers pic.twitter.com/ncIDqcQV8H
Nicholas Bendsten finished in fourth place with a time of 4:04.23, Jack Stanley came in fifth at 4:04.23, and Myles Hogan took eighth place, crossing the finish line at 4:08.60.
The Men's 60m Dash resulted in another first place Tiger finish and Ivy League champion in Daniel Duncan. Duncan soared past his Ivy League opponents, to finish the race at 6.73. Ibrahim Ayorinde also took the podium at fifth place, to finish the 60m dash at 6.84.
Another Tiger on Top!
— Princeton Track/XC (@PrincetonTrack) February 26, 2023
Daniel Duncan takes first in the 60m for the Princeton men with a 6.73 finish!#IvyHeps | #GoTigers pic.twitter.com/5GqsBMbQrY
Sam Rodman's performance in the 1000m run was a display of grit and resiliency. Rodman and Cornell's Damian Hackett ran an evenly matched race, but Rodman outlasted Hackett in the final 200 meters to take the first-place victory, finishing at 2:25.22.
The final, championship performance came from the 4x800 team of Jordan Kaplan, Ethan Reese, Connor Chen, and Sam Rodman. Another exciting race featured outstanding showings from all, four Tiger men. Sam Rodman exceeded expectations as the anchor, to outlast Cornell's Hackett for a second time on Sunday and secure first place for Princeton with a 7:30.04 finish.Rodman Takes First!
— Princeton Track/XC (@PrincetonTrack) February 26, 2023
Sam Rodman finishes first in the 1000m Run with a 2:25.22 finish!#IvyHeps | #GoTigers pic.twitter.com/vqJPb3vOH3
The Tigers remained a consistent force throughout Sunday, earning more Princeton points within the track and field events.A total team effort!
— Princeton Track/XC (@PrincetonTrack) February 26, 2023
The 4x800 team of Jordan Kaplan, Ethan Reese, Connor Chen, and Sam Rodman take a first place finish coming in at 7:30.04!#IvyHeps | #GoTigers pic.twitter.com/0KQUhwcloJ
Andersen Dimon soared in the men's 500m, finishing at 1:02.70 to take second place.
Within the men's triple jump, Greg Foster claimed a second-place finish with a 15.43m mark.
Ilay Furman also earned Tiger points placing sixth with a 14.76m leap.
Foster also impressed in the 60m hurdles, taking a fourth-place finish in the event with a time of 8.05.
Princeton also shined in the men's 200m with two, top-five finishes. Ibrahim Ayorinde took second place with a 21.50 finish, and Joey Gant claimed fourth with a time of 21.58.
A trio of Tigers had tremendous showings in the 800m. Ethan Reese placed second, (1:52.62) Jordan Kaplan took third (1:52.98), and Connor Chen finished in fifth (1:53 .77). The squad's performances helped Princeton to earn even more team points, in a tight, race for an Ivy League title.
Similarly, in the 5000m, Princeton's depth as a team was on full display. Two Tigers earned top six finishes, with Josh Zelek leading the pack to finish in third place (13:55.46), and Daniel O'Brien claiming sixth (14:01.51).
The Princeton DMR team of Nicholas Bendsten, Ladislav, Topfer, Jack Stanley, and Duncan Miller ran a hard-fought race to earn a second-place finish. Miller gave it his all as the Tiger anchor, to cross the finish line at 9:53.57.
Avery Shunneson was the top Tiger within the weight throw, taking an eighth-place finish with a 18.74m mark. John Hogan finished seventh in the high jump with 2.01m.
Players Mentioned
Sprints
/ Men's Track and Field
Mid. Distance
/ Men's Track and Field
Sprints
/ Men's Track and Field
Sprints
/ Men's Track and Field
Sprints
/ Men's Track and Field
Hurdles/Jumps
/ Men's Track and Field
Jumps
/ Men's Track and Field
Sprints
/ Men's Track and Field
Jumps
/ Men's Track and Field
Distance
/ Men's Track and Field
Mid. Distance
/ Men's Track and Field
Mid. Distance
/ Men's Track and Field
Distance
/ Men's Track and Field
Mid. Distance
/ Men's Track and Field
Distance
/ Men's Track and Field
Throws
/ Men's Track and Field
Mid. Distance
/ Men's Track and Field
Mid. Distance
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