The non-team scored Princeton Invitational, held at Jadwin Gym served several purposes for the men's track team — a tune up, a last chance qualifier or a last race of season, depending on the individual competitor.
With more than 40 athletes representing 12 schools — including Ivy rival Columbia — competing, Princeton recorded five first place finishes.
Several distance runners who look to play a key role in the point tally at the Heptagonal Championships next weekend were given the weekend off by Coach Mike Brady in order to have an uninterrupted training period prior to the League meet, and to reclaim a fresh desire to race that comes from having time off between meets.
Despite missing some of the traditional high scorers, the distance running faction asserted its dominance in the 1000m, where a 1-2-3 Princeton sweep was led by senior Seamus Whelton, who finished with a time of two minutes, 27.97 seconds.
Teammates junior Ed Zysick and freshman Tyson Evensen finished within the subsequent second.
Sophomore Rob Hulick—in the absence of provisional NCAA qualifiers David Dean and Ryan Smith — captured the 800m in a time of 1:53.91.
"The depth of our middle distance program makes Coach Brady's decision as to who gets to represent Princeton at Heps very difficult," sophomore Colin Brown said.
Brown raced in the 1000 meters for the Tigers.
Senior cross-country captain and All-Ivy distance runner Wesley Stockard, who has been hampered by illness most of the indoor season, entered the men's 5000m with the intent of running a qualifying time for the seeded section of the 5000m at Heps. Needing to run in the 14:40's to secure a spot in a showdown with national #1 Tom McCardle of Dartmouth, Stockard was rabbitted for a fraction of the distance, on the necessary pace, by sophomore teammate Jeff Deechiara.
Volunteer
Stockard, a Tennessee native, was unable to maintain the pace for the entire 25-lap event and finished in a disappointing, but respectable 15:02, meaning he will run the race out of the slow section at Heps next weekend.
There is, however, hope for Stockard. The race was won his freshman year by ex-Princeton star Mike Spence '00, who won the 5000m out of the supposed slow heat.
Tuning up for next weekend, sophomore Marcus Ford-Bey captured the triple jump with a leap of 13.93.
Bo knows
Junior Cameron Atkinson, who spends falls starting at running back for the football team, sped to victory in the 55m dash. The two sport star posted a quick time of 6.42.
Some athletes, such as senior Tora Harris, competed in non-specialty events as part of their training. Harris—the number one ranked high jumper in the country—placed last in the long jump with a paltry leap of 6.66m.
With the objectives of the home weekend aptly achieved for most individuals, men's indoor track and field can look ahead to the Heptagonal Championships next weekend in Ithaca, N.Y, where the Tigers seek to defend their league title.
Ancient nine
The Heps include the eight teams from the Ivy League, including host Cornell, plus the Midshipmen of Navy.
Dartmouth will also be a tough competitor, as the Big Green have perhaps the best distance runners in the league.
But the Tigers are confident about their chances to repeat as Heps champions. The entire indoor track season has been building to next weekend's meet in upstate New York.
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