The women's cross-country team made the most of its late season opener by winning the Central Connecticut State Invitational in New Britain, CT, this weekend.
The Tigers finished with 39 points, narrowly edging Rhode Island by three points. Third-place Connecticut was well back with 78 points. Sophomore Emily Kroshus won the race in 17 minutes, 43.6 seconds, holding off Vermont's Michele Palmer at the finish.
In the team's first race of the year, pacing proved to be the most difficult challenge for the Tigers. Uncertain of their conditioning, some runners were too tentative in the early going, while others bolted from the start, only to find their legs unwilling near the finish.
As is her tendency, Kroshus took command from the start, leading the pack through the fairly flat first mile in 5:30. She kept her pursuers close at hand, however, careful not to overestimate her endurance or underestimate their's. They remained at bay for the remainder of the race, as Kroshus never faltered.
"Emily was semi-cagey," Princeton head coach Peter Farrell said. "She danced with them the whole way."
Other Tigers were not so careful. Tempted to run with Kroshus and the leaders, sophomore Christina Roberto came through the mile mark at 5:40. Meanwhile, senior Emily Eynon, who often ran No. 2 for Princeton last year, hung back at a comfortable pace, hitting 5:49 for the mile.
As the race moved into the tougher second mile, however, Eynon began her march through the field. Her fresher legs allowed her to push up the large hill midway through the course and then pick her way along the treacherously twisty and narrow path down the hill on the other side.
By race's end, Eynon had climbed to eighth place overall, third for the Tigers. Roberto had slipped to 24th, 10th for the Tigers. Eynon finished in 18:41.5; Roberto in 19:33.9.
Out in front of Eynon was senior Catherine Casey in 18:23.0, which was good for a sixth place finish overall. Sophomore Pilar Marin finished 10th in 18:45.2, and sophomore Rebecca Snyder came in 14th in 19:09.6 to round out the scoring.
A pleasant surprise for Farrell was the performance of freshman Katherine Pefe, who jumped up to 19th place overall, seventh for Princeton — an unusually good early-season finish for a freshman.
"It was really a good way for the year to start out," Casey said. "It should give us confidence going into H-Y-Ps."
H-Y-Ps — the Harvard-Yale-Princeton meet to be held Oct. 6 at the Princeton Battlefield — will be much more difficult for the Tigers. Yale climbed to No. 7 in the country last year, easily winning Heptagonals along the way. The Elis return five of the top seven runners from that team, including their All-American twins, Kate and Laura O'Neill.
"Yale is nationally-ranked," Farrell said. "The thing is, we'll be ready for them."
Read More
Women’s ice hockey names Courtney Kessel as new head coach
Lily PampolinaFollowing the resignation of Cara Gardner Morey, Princeton appointed Courtney Kessel as head coach.
Following the resignation of Cara Gardner Morey, Princeton appointed Courtney Kessel as head coach.
Former women’s basketball forward Parker Hill ’25 signs professional contract in Switzerland
Doug SchwartzAfter a successful senior season, women's basketball forward Parker Hill signed a contact to play professional basketball in Europe, following in the steps of her past teammates.
After a successful senior season, women's basketball forward Parker Hill signed a contact to play professional basketball in Europe, following in the steps of her past teammates.
No. 7 women’s lacrosse season ends in NCAA quarterfinals against No. 1 UNC
Hayk YengibaryanWith the loss, the career of senior attacker Mackenzie Blake comes to an end. Blake finished her career with a program-best 231 career goals and three first-team All-Ivy selections.
With the loss, the career of senior attacker Mackenzie Blake comes to an end. Blake finished her career with a program-best 231 career goals and three first-team All-Ivy selections.