Although the men's and women's outdoor track and field teams experienced different levels of success at their meets this weekend, the overall response to the results was the same: How can these experiences be used to prepare better for the Ivy League Heptagonal Championships?
"Everything at this point of the season is geared towards peak performances at the Heps," junior sprinter Dwaine Banton said, "and all victories prior to the championship instill confidence in the individual and the team."
The men traveled to Franklin Field in Philadelphia where they took on the host team, Penn, and Villanova in an early-season tri-meet. The Tigers claimed the overall victory in the event, defeating Penn, 110.5 points to 80.5, and Villanova 119 to 50.
The women stayed at home to face league rivals Yale and Penn. Despite several impressive individual performances, Princeton finished last in the meet with 55 points, falling short of Yale's winning total of 77 points and Penn's 71.
The men's team was firing on all cylinders in Philadelphia, receiving strong performances from nearly every component of the team. Particularly dominating were the field athletes, who took several individual honors and top-five finishes.
Junior Mike Weishuhn won the high jump with a height of 1.95 meters. Sophomore Derek Davis won the long jump with a distance of 6.75m, and freshman Nick Crumpton won the triple jump with a 14.29m effort.
The list goes on. Senior Rocky Craley had a 15.98m throw to win the shot put. The Tigers took the top four positions in the hammer throw, led by senior Mark Smith, who won the event with a 55.57m throw. Sophomore Kyle Whittaker claimed the overall victory in the pole vault by clearing a 4.7m attempt.
Princeton was victorious in all but two of the field events in which they competed. But the runners would not let themselves be outdone. Banton won both the 100m and 200m dashes, with times of 10.84 seconds and 21.70 respectively. Senior Jeff Key took the individual honors in the 400m hurdles. The Tigers snagged the top three positions in the 400m race with junior Mike Kopp edging out junior teammate Justin Reed for the win. The Tigers also recorded wins by the 4x100m and 4x400m relay teams.
"Our points total at the meet last weekend was our best in some time." Banton said. "It shows us that we are heading in the right direction for Heps."
The women's weekend was highlighted by several strong individual performances, but the Tigers' contention in the overall points competition was hindered by injuries and runners still trying to find their stride after the recent indoor season.
Seniors Liz Morse and Hasina Outtz continued to shine on the track. Morse won the 800m run with a time of 2 minutes, 12.51 seconds. She was over a second ahead of her nearest competition and two seconds faster than her winning time at last weekend's Sam Howell Invitational.
Outtz once again dominated the 400m hurdles, finishing three seconds faster than the second place finisher, crossing the line at 1:00.26.
Sophomore Cack Ferrell won the 1,500m run in her first race of the outdoor season with a time of 4:30.1. She had been resting after NCAAs — one of the Tigers' two competitors there — and in preparation for Heps. Freshman Catha Mullen took second, just a second behind her teammate.
Senior Betsy Kennedy led the women in the field events. She took second in both the discus and javelin throws.
Despite these efforts, the Tigers fell short in the meet.
"You can never pinpoint exactly what went wrong in a meet, but basically we are just going to need every single person to step it up a little bit," Outtz said. "In some ways this meet was a bit of a wakeup call before we head into Heps."
With two meets down, neither the men nor the women have lost focus of their goal for the season: victory at Heps.
Next weekend, the women head to California for the Mt. Sac Invitational, while the men stay home to host Rutgers, Manhattan and Iona.
Read More
What’s an offseason? Jackson Green and Jay Mentink on being multi-sport athletes at Princeton
Doug SchwartzPrinceton sophomores Jackson Green and Jay Mentink embrace the challenge of playing two Division I sports while tackling Ivy League academics head-on.
Princeton sophomores Jackson Green and Jay Mentink embrace the challenge of playing two Division I sports while tackling Ivy League academics head-on.
No. 3 men’s lacrosse routs No. 14 Towson 22–12, Mackesy breaks career goals record
Hayk YengibaryanWith the win, the Tigers advance to the NCAA quarterfinals for the first time in 2022. Princeton will take on No. 5 Syracuse in Hempstead, N.Y., next weekend for a spot in the final four.
With the win, the Tigers advance to the NCAA quarterfinals for the first time in 2022. Princeton will take on No. 5 Syracuse in Hempstead, N.Y., next weekend for a spot in the final four.
Senior Coulter Mackesy, Pace Billings ’24, and Sam English ’23 drafted to Premier Lacrosse League
Hayk YengibaryanThe PLL, founded in 2018 by brothers Mike and Paul Rabil, is North America’s professional lacrosse league. The league currently features eight teams that compete in a tour-based format, traveling to different cities each weekend throughout the summer season.
The PLL, founded in 2018 by brothers Mike and Paul Rabil, is North America’s professional lacrosse league. The league currently features eight teams that compete in a tour-based format, traveling to different cities each weekend throughout the summer season.