Track & Field: Men have ‘target on back’ at Heps

The men’s team has won five straight Ivy League titles between cross country and both track seasons and will be looking to continue its strong winning streak this weekend.

“Having such a great recent record coming into Heps means we have a big target on our back,” senior Joe Stilin said. “Sometimes that can mean a lot of pressure, but this team has shown that it can perform time and time again when the pressure is on and it really matters.”

The men’s team has built a successful season this year, placing first overall in five out of its six team-scored meets.

According to Stilin, Princeton’s main goal is “firstly, outscoring Cornell.”

The Big Red seem to be the Tigers’ toughest competition, having finished in first or second place in the majority of Cornell’s team-scored meets. The Big Red’s Stephen Mozia has had a great first season in the shot put, breaking a 38-year-old Cornell freshman record, and will be looking to put up big numbers for Cornell come this weekend.

Columbia is also a very strong team that Princeton will have to face off against.

“[The Lions are] looking extremely strong right now in the distance events and will look to give our guys a good run, literally,” Stilin said. “[The team will] take care of business in our strong areas like the distance events, 400[m], triple jump [and the] weight throw.”

But it’s the nail-biters and the close marginal victories that Stilin believes will decide whether Princeton comes out with a victory.

“The meet will come down to the unexpected podium finishes by guys who have huge performances at Heps,” Stilin said. “I get just as excited when one of our big guns wins an event and scores 10 points as when a guy scrapes out one or two points in an event that you didn’t expect.”

“The first big hurdle in the meet is getting as many people to finals on Sunday as possible,” Stilin said, which is done by qualifying on Saturday. “Once that is done, it’s all about scoring points in every event, and winning as many events as possible.”

The women’s team has also had a strong season, finishing in the top three in the majority of its scored meets. Sophomore Molly Higgins stressed the fact that the Heptagonals usually come down to a couple points.

“In the past, the Ivy League Title has been within reach for two or three of the teams,” she said.

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The relays — the 4x100m, 4x400m and 4x800m — “will be crucial,” according to Higgins. The field events will be a strength for the Tigers, as Princeton’s pole vaulters, jumpers and throwers have had an outstanding season so far.

“Seeing the team come together and really start to blossom just in time for Heps is really inspiring and proves that the Princeton women are resilient and in it to win it,” Higgins said. “May 5 [the start of Heptagonals] is almost here, and as a team we should be confident that everything we have worked for since the fall season will come to fruition this weekend.”