For most students at Princeton, Intersession will be a vacation — a chance to cool down after the marathon of reading period and finals week. For the men's and women's track and field teams, however, the work is far from over. Before the next semester begins, Princeton’s track and field athletes will compete as close as Jadwin Gymnasium and as far as Seattle.
Both the men’s and women’s teams will begin Intersession at home to compete in the Princeton Relays. Although none of the Tigers’ Ivy League rivals will be present, Princeton will have a chance to measure itself against regional competitors like Temple, Rutgers and The College of New Jersey.
The meet does not rank team statistics, but the Tigers faired well during the last year's Princeton Relays meet. Sophomore Lauren Zumbach won the mile run last year, while sophomores Nathan Mathabane and Peter Callahan took first and second place in 1,000-meter run. Juniors Trevor Van Ackeren and Donn Cabral followed in third and fourth. Junior Alex Banfich and senior Ashley Higginson went took the top two places in the women’s event. Zumbach is a copy editor and former news writer for The Daily Princetonian, and Mathabane is a columnist for the 'Prince.'
Juniors David Slovenski and Derek Hynes placed first and third, respectively, at last year’s pole vault competition. Additionally, the women’s distance medley relay took top honors at the closing event last year.
On Jan. 29, the teams will finish their semester break in New York City at the Armory Track. The day is the first time in the season that Princeton faces off against Ivy League competition, and it will give the Tigers a chance to size up the competition that they will face at February's Indoor Heptagonal Championships, which determines the Ivy League title.
The meet will hardly be a Heps preview, but at last year’s indoor championships, Cornell and Columbia — Princeton’s conference competition on Jan. 29 — were serious contenders for the league title. The Big Red placed second in the men’s meet, while the Lions were the women’s runners-up. Princeton took both championships in the end, but only by a close margin.
Judging from the early season, Cornell should remain stiff competition for Princeton as the season moves forward. Both the men’s and women’s teams saw a strong opener earlier this month at the Southern Tier Collegiate Open against Colgate, Mansfield and Nazareth. Cornell’s women’s squad swept every event it entered, giving the team 15 wins by the end of the day. Cornell’s men opened strongly as well, claiming first in 10 events.
Columbia has not opened its indoor season yet, but Princeton would be foolish to let the Lions out of its sights. Columbia took second at the women’s Ivy League cross country championships in October and third at the men’s meet. The Tigers will undoubtedly meet some of these runners again on Jan. 29.
Colleges outside Princeton’s conference, such as Georgetown, West Point and Villanova, will also compete at that meet.
While most of the Tigers’ runners are busy scoping out Heps competition in New York, part of the women’s team will be on the opposite coast, in Seattle, for the Husky Invitational. Here the Tigers will have the rare opportunity to challenge Midwest and Pacific teams on the track. Although Stanford and Wisconsin will not be challengers at Heps, nationwide competition should be on the radar for any NCAA hopefuls. And given the Tigers’ momentum from the last year's track and field and cross country seasons, Princeton should have plenty of national contenders.
Read More
With Pierce to sit out the year, men’s basketball loses last senior standing
Harrison BlankSenior forward Caden Pierce announced today that he will be sitting out his senior season of basketball at Princeton in the interests of maintaining his final year of eligibility.
Senior forward Caden Pierce announced today that he will be sitting out his senior season of basketball at Princeton in the interests of maintaining his final year of eligibility.
Women’s ice hockey names Courtney Kessel as new head coach
Lily PampolinaFollowing the resignation of Cara Gardner Morey, Princeton appointed Courtney Kessel as head coach.
Following the resignation of Cara Gardner Morey, Princeton appointed Courtney Kessel as head coach.
Former women’s basketball forward Parker Hill ’25 signs professional contract in Switzerland
Doug SchwartzAfter a successful senior season, women's basketball forward Parker Hill signed a contact to play professional basketball in Europe, following in the steps of her past teammates.
After a successful senior season, women's basketball forward Parker Hill signed a contact to play professional basketball in Europe, following in the steps of her past teammates.