Unfortunately for Princeton, both teams would also come to find that Cornell was just too tough to overcome, as the Big Red took home the men’s and women’s titles this weekend.
For the men, this championship marks the third-straight year in which Princeton has finished second to Cornell. The Big Red’s final team score was 199, with an injury-stricken Princeton squad earning 128. Yale finished third with 78 points.
The women had their dreams of a triple crown — an indoor, outdoor and cross-country championship in the same year — dashed by junior All-American Jeomi Maduka and the Big Red as it won its seventh-straight outdoor Heps championship.
The Tigers, however, who lost 165-141, did not relinquish their indoor title that easily. They led the Big Red 50-48 after the first day of competition and only gave up the lead with three events to go in the meet. Cornell, a traditionally strong sprinting team, won the 4x400m relay and earned 10 important points from Maduka in the triple jump to overtake the Princeton and seal the victory.
The men were also in close contention after the first day of competition, which featured strong performances by junior Alex Pessala and sophomore Eric Plummer. Pessala won his fifth Heps title in the hammer throw with a toss of 197 feet. He edged out freshman teammate Craig Pearce, who earned second place with a throw of 191’10”.
“We knew from the beginning that several injuries were going to hold us back from the team title,” Pessala said, “but it was great to win individually.”
Plummer pulled out his best shot put toss on his last attempt, winning the championship with a throw of 59’11”. Freshman George Abyad’s 52’02” toss was good for fifth in the event.
Senior Will Byrd and sophomore Chad Faulkner tied for second in the pole vault with jumps of 15’09”, a mark impacted by the windy conditions. Freshman Dion Lehman placed fourth in the long jump with a mark of 23’11”, while senior Justin Pines placed fifth in the 10,000m run. His time of 30 minutes, 34.47 seconds was good enough to qualify for the IC4A championships.
The women also saw great individual performances on the first day, highlighted by a one-two-four finish in the 10,000m run. Junior Jolee VanLeuven led the way in 35:21.91, while freshman Sarah Cummings and senior Caitlin McTague finished second and fourth with times of 35:27.53 and 36:34.74, respectively.
The Tigers also had a pair of top finishers in the shot put, with freshman Isabell von Loga capturing the championship with a toss of 49’8.25”. Fellow freshman Thanithia Billings took second with a throw of 47’10.5”. Junior pole vaulter Jessica Kloss also took home an individual title, winning with a jump of 12’7.5”.
In her last Heps, senior co-captain Emma Harper placed third in the hammer throw with a mark of 169’07”. Freshman Emma Ruggiero came in just behind Harper with a toss of 167’05”.
The second day of competition also saw great individual performances by both the men and women’s teams. On the men’s side, senior Dave Nightingale gutted out a 5,000m victory with a time of 14:28.55. Freshman Mike Eddy’s 47.31 run jumped him four spots from his preliminary finish for second in the 400m finals. Sophomore Tom Zozokos came in second in the 400m hurdles in 52.24, while sophomore Justin Frick placed second in the men’s high jump with a clearance of 6’11.75”.
As the point spread between Princeton and Cornell began to shrink, several members of the women’s team stepped up. Freshman Ashley Higginson won the 5K championship with a time of 16:39.35, followed by Cummings and VanLeuven, who placed third and fourth. Junior Megan Brandeland won the 3,000m steeplechase with an NCAA-qualifying time of 10:40.57. Freshman Liz Deir finished right behind, with a second-place time of 10:45.41.
Freshman Lauren Barber’s time of 14.13 earned her second in the 100m hurdles, while sophomore Liz Costello placed third in the 1,500m with an NCAA-qualifying time of 4:25.64. Freshman Johanna Valdez took third in the high jump with a mark of 5’4.5”.
Junior Agatha Offorjebe’s time of 56.39 was good enough for third place in the 400m, and Leanna Bellar’s time of 56.95 earned her sixth in the same event. Despite these finishes, Princeton saw its lead evaporate, as Cornell used its dominance in the sprint events to earn valuable points toward the end of the meet.
Read More
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.
No. 3 men’s lacrosse season ends in NCAA quarterfinals after 19–18 loss to No. 5 Syracuse
Hayk YengibaryanWith the win, Syracuse advances to the final four for the first time since 2013. For the Tigers, their season ends along with the career of senior standout attacker Coulter Mackesy.
With the win, Syracuse advances to the final four for the first time since 2013. For the Tigers, their season ends along with the career of senior standout attacker Coulter Mackesy.
Preview: No. 3 men’s lacrosse plays No. 5 Syracuse in NCAA quarterfinals
Hayk YengibaryanShould the Tigers beat the Orange, they will advance to the Final Four for the first time since 2022 as they look to win their first national championship since 2001.
Should the Tigers beat the Orange, they will advance to the Final Four for the first time since 2022 as they look to win their first national championship since 2001.