W. track longs to hold Heps trophy after five-year hiatus

Every season, the women's track team ventures forth in hopes of striking fear into the hearts of its foes and reigning victorious at the Heptagonal Championships.

Occasionally they are rebuffed and sent home bereft of any sort of compensation for their efforts or pride. Even more occasionally, they attain supremacy and return to Princeton giddy from victory and drunk on the fruitless efforts of their enemies. And in just a fortnight hence the Princeton women's indoor track team will strap on their equipment, gird themselves for battle, and set sail to Hanover, N.H. to strive for the laurel crown once again.

Though they have grown adept at striving, the question remains, "How to win?" A perennial goal of the team, such a feat has long proved elusive. The team has improved its lot quite substantially after a few bad years, such as last year's third place finish, but an overall Tiger victory or second-place finish has not been recorded since 1998. Princeton has such a respectable history of track excellence that it's hard not to envision the Tigers holding the first-place trophy every year.

The Princeton team's once-grueling workouts have been toned down to form-analysis and fine-tuning as the day of the championships inches ever closer. The Tigers will likely continue training in such a manner until shortly before Heps, hoping to peak at exactly the right time. And if they do, the title might finally be within reach. Princeton has talent enough to earn first place, but a little luck may be needed to push them over the finish line.

In the shorter distances, much of the team's point-scoring potential lies in the hands of several capable juniors, including Liz Morse and Hasina Outtz. Morse will likely run the 400 meters and is riding high off of a recent victory in that event at H-Y-Ps. Outtz will attempt to lock up the 60m hurdles, as she has effectively done all season. Though Outtz did not win her race last weekend, she was the top college-eligible participant. Thus odds are in her favor to do well at Heps. "We're looking for Hasina to win the hurdles," said Lattimer. "She's done really well in that position all year. Also, we should have a strong 4x400 group."

That group would consist of Outtz, Morse, possibly Lattimer, and one other. Lattimer has been recovering from injuries for a while now and may not compete outside of her specialty, the 200m. She too won her event last week at H-Y-Ps — an especially impressive feat considering that it was her first meet since being injured.

The long distance races will likely be led by junior Emily Kroshus, a perennial frontrunner for the Tiger distance squad. The team is especially deep this year and looks to see additional point-scoring efforts coming from several other frequent contributors this season. Freshmen Cack Ferrell and Meredith Lambert have come into their own this season and could easily have breakout performances at Heptagonals.

"The O'Neill twins [Laura and Kate from Yale] are really the people to beat in the distance runs," Ferrell said. "It's going to be really, really tough to beat them in the 3k, but I definitely think Kroshus has a good shot in the 5k, and I should hopefully be able to stay with them in the mile."

Princeton also has some great athletes in the field events. Sophomore Chelo Canino is one of only five high jumpers in the league to clear twelve feet this season. Betsy Kennedy has been excelling in the weight throw as well, setting a school record last week at H-Y-Ps. And both junior Susan Coltman and sophomore Jen Byrd have had stellar seasons thus far in the pentathlon.

In the end it may come down to chance. With valid competitors in nearly every event, Princeton must cross its fingers and hope enough Tigers can win or place highly in their specialty events. Either way, it should be exciting to see how it all pans out.