Columbia
Ivy League Heptagonal Championships
Women Claim Second Straight Heps Title, Men Finish Fifth
10/27/2018 2:36:00 PM | Cross Country
Women's cross country repeats as Ivy League champions, claims sixth all-time Ivy League cross country title at West Windsor Fields.
PRINCETON, N.J. — Led by four All-Ivy League performances, the Columbia women's cross country team captured the Ivy League Heptagonal Championships title for the second year in a row on a rainy and cold day at Princeton's West Windsor Fields. The men finished in fifth place with one All-Ivy performer during the race. Overnight rain and heavy winds made the competition particularly challenging, as the course was muddy and slick throughout the day.
The women's team entered the weekend as the favorites to capture the title. Head Coach Dan Ireland said it was tougher entering the competition as the favorite.
"I'm really excited for the women today," Columbia Head Coach Dan Ireland said. "We have an entirely different team than what we had last year. We weren't sure what to expect coming into this year, it was a completely new group. We only ran four runners who were part of the 12 last year. It was a new group, different focus. We thought if we worked hard and took care of our business, that we could defend our title. It was a great run for us and I'm really proud of them."
Columbia won its sixth all-time Ivy League Women's Heps title and first back-to-back titles since 2004 and 2005. Columbia has previously claimed Ivy League team titles in 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2017 and now 2018. Columbia tallied its best score since finishing with 51 points in 2004, and recorded the best score for the winning team since Harvard totaled 33 in 2016. The Lions last won consecutive Ivy Heps titles from 2002-05, when the Lions claimed four-straight.
"Going into this race we knew it was going to be a tough one," senior Erin Gregoire said. "This course is all grass and dirt, so it turned into a mud pit. We had to prepare last night, but I think that helped ease our stresses and we were excited to go into this as one unified team."
For the women, seniors Gregoire and Libby Kokes pulled ahead of the pack, finishing in second and fourth place, respectively, with times of 20:49.3 and 20:53.4 over the 6K course. For their efforts, both runners found a spot on the All-Ivy League first team.
Junior Katie Wasserman claimed 11th place with a time of 21:07.7 and sophomore Allie Hays rounded out All-Ivy League finishers from Columbia with a 13th place run and a time of 21:08.5. Abby McLaughlin was the fifth Lion to cross the line, claiming 22nd with a time of 21:22.5.
"It sounds cliché, but that's because it's true - pure elation," Kokes said. "It kind of deprived of senses because we have built up to this moment and we aren't done and have goals for the season, but I think it's a representation of us keeping faith and believing in each other and sticking like glue to the mission."
For the men, junior Kenny Vasbinder was the first to cross the line for Columbia. Vasbinder claimed ninth in the field with a time of 24:52.4 and solidified a second team All-Ivy position for himself.
Tyler Italiano followed closely behind at 25:01.9, taking the 15th spot. Senior Brian Zabilski finished in 19th with a time of 25:11.4, while classmate Dan Schumacher crossed the line at 25:25.5, taking the 23rd spot. First year, David Vorbach, was the fifth runner across the line for the Lions, placing 33rd with a time of 25:30.9.
The season is not over for the Lions, as the focus shifts to the NCAA Northeast Regionals in Buffalo on November 9.
Players Mentioned
