Next Sunday afternoon Princeton's track teams will enter the Heptagonal Championships — the biggest team meet of the season — with identical hegemonic intentions.
The men's team looks to usurp Penn — last year's outdoor team champion. While Princeton was the Ivy League champion indoors, the structure of the meet changes significantly from indoors to out, a change that is not to Princeton's advantage because it lessens the impact of Princeton's greatest strength — its middle distance squad. Princeton is nonetheless favored to bring the title home.
Leading the charge are senior captains Ryan Smith and Tora Harris. Smith is currently ranked No. 2 in the Ivy League and No. 7 in the nation in the 800m run. Harris leads the nation in the high jump and is currently ranked No. 5 in the world with his Penn Relays height of seven feet, six and a half inches.
The Tigers should score valuable points in the throws, led by sophomore All-America and three time Heps champion Josh McCaughey in the hammer throw. Classmate Rocky Craley and freshman indoor champion Paul Lyons look to dominate the discus and shot put.
The team will receive an unexpected boost from senior Liam Morton, who had a finger amputated several weeks ago. Wednesday, competing for the first time since the injury, Morton recorded a personal best at 67.62m and provisionally qualified for the NCAA championships. If Morton can retain that form through the weekend, he should challenge for all-Ivy honors.
Leading the women's team are seniors Lauren Simmons and Catherine Casey. Simmons — ranked No. 9 in the country and first in the league in the 800m run — will compete in both the 800m and 1500m races. Casey will double in the 5000m (where she is a provisional NCAA qualifier) and the 3000m.
Sophomore Susan Coltman looks to challenge for the heptathalon title, while classmate Hasina Outtz is a strong threat in the 400m hurdles.
The Tigers have the potential to score in every event, but the outcome of the meet will come down to individual efforts. Should the track teams perform to their ability this weekend, there is little question that the result will be two consecutive victory laps for Princeton come Sunday.
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