Men's, women's track falter at Penn Relays in tune-up for Heps

When freshman Rob Hulick was knocked over and nearly knocked unconscious Saturday at the Penn Relays, it was only the conclusion of a weekend of headaches for the men's track team.

Holding back its best efforts for this weekend's Heptagonals, Princeton entered five relays in men's competition, none of which fared well. The women were also tuning up for this weekend's meet, and their relay teams experienced similar fates. The few individuals both teams sent were the only relief to a migraine of a weekend.

Hulick ran the leadoff leg for the 4x800 relay team, and was followed by freshman Josh Kauke, junior Ryan Smith and sophomore David Dean. Had all four turned in better, or even close to their personal best times, the team would have contended for the top spot in the elite Championship of America heat, which was eventually won by Stanford in 7:19.39.

Instead, one lap into his leadoff leg, Hulick tangled with a Tennessee runner at full stride and fell, hitting his head on the track as he tumbled. Kauke, Dean and Smith went home without running a step, and Hulick went home with a concussion.

Before the 4x800 team's troubles, Princeton's other relay teams had taken tumbles in the standings. The distance medley relay and the 4xMile relay teams were also expected to be more competitive in their Championship of America heats as both finished near the back of the pack. The DMR was 13th out of 15 teams, while the 4xMile managed 15th out of 18 teams.

"We were disappointed with how we ran, that about sums it up," junior Seamus Whelton said. "We would have had to run our best to win, because all the big guns are out for the 4xMile, 4x800 and DMR. The Championship of America heat for those events is almost like the finals at [the NCAA championships]."

As for the Tigers' sprinters, neither the 4x100 nor the 4x200 team made it out of their opening heats, both finishing seventh, while the 4x400 team finished last in its Heptagonal heat.

Only freshman Josh McCaughey, who competed individually in the hammer throw, performed up to expectations for the men's team. McCaughey set a personal best with a throw of 202 feet, eight inches — good for sixth place in the championship division.

The women's team found slightly more success than the men, particularly in the 4x800. The Tigers finished seventh in the regular college heat in 8:59.02. The 4x400 team experienced a weekend that was more like that of the men's, however, finishing seventh in its Heptagonal heat.

Once again, Princeton's individuals brightened the outlook, as junior Catherine Casey finished 10th in the championship heat of the 3000, turning in an impressive 9:44.20. Senior Becky Haarlow finished fourth in the Eastern Collegiate division of the triple jump by leaping 38-9.75.

Though the times were not up to the teams' standards, Whelton explained that the team was not overly concerned with winning at this meet.

"The coaches told us before the races that if we dropped the baton we should just keep on running and put a fast time on the board, even if it wasn't official," Whelton said.