October 29, 2010

Princeton Women Win Fifth-Straight Ivy Heps Cross Country Championship

Interview with Princeton Head Coach Peter Farrell

BRONX, N.Y. – The Princeton Tigers claimed their fifth-consecutive Ivy League Heptagonal Women's Cross Country Championship, leading the field with 33 points Friday at Van Cortlandt Park.

One year after sweeping the top five individual positions, the Tigers earned two of the top four and used strong performances by their fourth and fifth runners to hold off second place Columbia (60 points).

Princeton junior Alex Banfich claimed her first individual title, crossing the finish line of the 5k course in 16:58.9. Ashley Higginson was fourth in 17:27.1, Mel Newbery was eighth in 17:45.7 and Sarah Cummings was ninth in 17:45.7. Abby Levene rounded out the Tigers' scoring five, finishing in 17:50.0.

Columbia's Caroline McDonough was second overall in a time of 17:18.9, followed closely by teammate Jackie Drouin in third in 17:22.3. Julie Quinn was 15th in 17:54.8, Erin Hayes was 23rd in 18:02.1 and Erin Gillingham was 28th in 18:15.7.

Brown battled hard for second overall, but came up just shy with 63 points. The Bears were led by standout freshman Margaret Connelly, who placed fifth overall in 17:29.5.

Cornell took fourth with 98 points, Harvard was fifth with 121 points, Penn was sixth with 168 points, Dartmouth was seventh with 177 points and Yale rounded out the field in eighth with 182 points.

The top seven individual finishers earn All-Ivy first team honors and the eighth through 14th placewinners earn second team honors.

2010 Women's Cross Country All-Ivy
First Team
Alex Banfich, Princeton, JR
Caroline McDonough, Columbia, SO
Jackie Drouin, Columbia, SR
Ashley Higginson, Princeton, SR
Margaret Connelly, Brown, FR
Jeanne Mack, Harvard, JR
Devin McMahon, Cornell, FR

Second Team
Mel Newbery, Princeton, JR
Sarah Cummings, Princeton, SR
Lauren Pischel, Brown, SR
Abby Levene, Princeton, SO
Elaine Kuckertz, Brown, SO
Leslie Kovach, Penn, SO
Nicole Cochran, Harvard, JR