Princeton University Athletics
Princeton University
NCAA First Round
Five Tigers Qualify for Women's Outdoor Track & Field National Championships
May 26, 2024 | Women's Track and Field
LEXINGTON, KY - The Princeton women's track & field team embarked on a journey, sending a formidable team of 11 athletes to the Eastern Preliminary Round of the 2024 NCAA Championships in Lexington, KY.
"The quality of competition at the first round of the NCAA championships was astounding as the bar has been raised to an exceptional level," said head coach Michelle Eisenreich "Our women showed they are not afraid to mix it up with anyone. In a record breaking year, we added two more Ivy League records and 13 gutsy performances. We are far from done and expect great things at the finals in two weeks."
Despite Day 2's weather challenges causing disruptions to morning events, the Tigers remained undeterred, showcasing their talent. Senior Annika Kelly distinguished herself, securing a commendable 15th place out of 48 competitors in women's hammer and achieving a notable distance of 59.34 meters (194-8). Joining her was freshman Angela McAuslan-Kelly, marking her NCAA postseason debut in the same event, with future plans to represent Great Britain at the World U20 Championships.
Weather-induced delays pushed Tessa Mudd and the women's pole vault to Day 3, yet Mudd triumphed, setting a new Ivy League Record at 4.30 meters (14-1 ¼ ), securing her spot in Eugene, OR. Notably, Mudd now holds both indoor and outdoor Ivy League pole vault records as a sophomore.
In a historic moment, Shea Greene dominated the women's javelin, breaking the Princeton School Record with a colossal throw of 56.18 meters (184-4), surpassing the Ivy League record previously held by her training partner, Kate Joyce. Greene's achievement not only earned her an auto-qualification for the 2024 Olympic Trials but also led her to the Eastern Preliminary victory, solidifying her position as one of the nation's top javelin athletes.
Building off of the multiple-meter PR trend that teammate Shea Greene set in javelin, Siniru Iheoma launched a discus 56.20 meters (184-4) for over a two meter personal best. This mark topped the second flight of women's discus and stood strong as the third flight competed for a spot in Eugene. Iheoma finished with an impressive 8th place and punched her ticket to Eugene, OR. Teammate Makenna Marshall made her NCAA postseason debut in the discus, where she threw 48.87 meters (160-4) to take 37th place.
In women's long jump and triple jump, the iconic duo of Alexandra and Georgina Scoot prevailed yet again. On Day 1, Alexandra Kelly jumped a length of 6.26 meters (20-6 ½ ) in long jump to take 6th and punch her ticket to Eugene. Georgina Scoot fell just short of an NCAA qualifying mark in long jump, finishing 19th with a mark of 6.12 meters (20-1). However, Scoot approached day 3 of the Eastern Preliminary with determination, where she punched her ticket to Eugene with a jump of 13.08 meters (42-11) in triple jump. The Kelly and Scoot duo once again proved their dominance and the pair will now go on to battle it out in Eugene, Oregon at the National Championships.
Mena Scatchard and Maggie Liebich showcased their talent on the track with an impressive performance in the 1500 meters. Both athletes advanced to the quarterfinals on day 1, recording times of 4:15.89 and 4:14.17, respectively. Despite their strong showing, the intense competition in the quarterfinals, marked by a new collegiate lead and swift times, meant Scatchard and Liebich narrowly missed NCAA qualification. In the 3000 meter steeplechase, Lexi Allen delivered a noteworthy performance, clocking in at 10:24.96 to secure the 21st position in the highly competitive field in Lexington.
With Shea Greene, Siniru Iheoma, Alexandra Kelly, Tessa Mudd, and Georgina Scoot leading the charge in field events, the anticipation builds as they prepare to showcase their talents in Eugene, OR, in early June.
Players Mentioned
