Columbia
Ivy League Championships
Wade, Williams Earn Individual Titles at Outdoor Heps
5/8/2016 7:26:00 PM | Track and Field
Men's Results | Women's Results | Watch: Wade & Hardie 800m Run | Photos
PRINCETON, N.J. - Anna Williams was the champion in the triple jump, Brittney Wade took home the title in the 800m run and joined Libby Kokes, Olivia Sadler and Sarah Hardie for a 4x800m relay title at the Ivy League Outdoor Heptagonal Championships, hosted by Princeton.
In total, Columbia combined for seven All-Ivy League performances between the women and the men.
Women's Recap
The first championship on the day came from Williams, who leaped out to a career-best performance in the triple jump. The junior came into the weekend with the second best mark in the league, but bested Brown's O'Shea Williams with a leap of 12.90m (42-4) to earn her first career Ivy League title. The Alexandria, Virginia, native was joined on the podium by Adefunke Sonaike, who took third at 12.39m.
Wade came through the prelims with the third best 800m time, trailing Hardie in first, as well as Princeton's Ashley Forte. The junior was near the front of the pack the entire race, but broke free in the final 100 meters to surpass the competition, crossing the line in 2:10.23. Hardie gave the Lions a 1-2 finish in the event, clocking a 2:11.12 to earn All-Ivy League recognition.
Watch: Wade and Hardie Interviewed After Going 1-2 in the 800m Run
The pair teamed up with Olivia Sadler and Libby Kokes in the 4x800m relay, besting their second place effort from the indoor season with a title. Today, the team clocked an 8:44.10 for the win, topping second place Princeton, who finished in 8:45.51.
The women also picked up an All-Ivy Leauge performance from Henna Rustami in the 5K run. In a deep field, Rustami and her junior classmate Natalie Tanner stayed near the front of the pack for the entire race, watching the competition fall out as the laps went on. During the bell lap, the Columbia pair were among a pack of five in the lead group, as Rustami made a move with 200m to run. After leading during the final turn and into the front stretch, the Syosset, New York, native was edged by .53 at the line by Dartmouth's Dana Giordano, running 16:33.92 for second. Tanner kicked in strong for third at 16:36.69.
In the 4x400m realy, the Lions put forth a third place effort behind Mariella McCormack, Akua Obeng-Akrofi, Sydney Petersen and Jaycee Parker in 3:44.51. Obeng-Akrofi and Parker both scored for the Lions in the 400m run, taking third in 54.27 and fifth in 54.31, respectively, while the two went on to combine for a fifth place finish in the 4x100m relay with Ashley Cunningham and Aminat Iriafen.
The women's team finished the meet in fourth place with 85 points.
Men's Recap
In one of the most exciting races of the day, Robert Napolitano came within .02 seconds of matching his 1 Mile title from the past two indoor seasons with a 1500m championship run during the outdoor Heps. During what was considered a slow pace, the junior and the rest of the field exploded during the final lap, finishing second to Yale's James Randon (3:56.99) in 3:57.01. The separation in the 10-member field was tight, as every runner finished within 1.73 seconds of one another.
A total of 25 runners competed in the men's 5K, making the tight pack of runners troubling to maneuver. After staying near the lead throughout, first-year Brian Zabilski was able to make his way near the top of the pack and stay away from the danger. Although he came into the final turn in fourth, Zabilski made up ground and claimed All-Ivy League status with a second place finish in 14:18.42.
Fellow first-year Alek Sauer bested his fourth place finish from the prelims in the 800m run, giving the men a third place finish in 1:49.38. In the 4x800m relay, Sauer combined with Napolitano, Sam Ritz and Taylor Click to take fifth in 7:29.25.
The men picked up points on day one from Jack Boyle, who claimed fifth in the 10K at 29:46.10, and from rookie Robert O'Brien, who took fourth in the pole vault in a school record 5.00m. Additionally, Thomas Rooney was a sixth place finisher in the 3K Steeplechase in 9:07.91, as the men ended the day in eighth place with 34 points.
First Team All-Ivy League
Anna Williams - Women's Triple Jump - 12.90m (42-4)
Brittney Wade - Women's 800m - 2:10.23
Brittney Wade, Libby Kokes, Olivia Sadler, Sarah Hardie - Women's 4x800m Relay - 8:44.10
Second Team All-Ivy League
Sarah Hardie - Women's 800m - 2:11.12
Robert Napolitano - Men's 1500m - 3:57.01
Henna Rustami - Women's 5K - 16:33.91
Brian Zabilski - Men's 5K - 14:18.42
Players Mentioned
