BOSTON, Mass. — The Columbia cross country team is set for the 2023 Ivy League Cross Country Heptagonal Championships, which will take place on Saturday, October 28 at Franklin Park in Boston. Hosted by the Harvard Crimson, the meet will begin at 11 a.m. with the women's 6k, followed by a noon start for the men's 8k. 

Last year's Ivy League Heps were hosted in New York City at Van Cortlandt Park, and the Columbia women finished in fourth place while the Columbia men finished in seventh place. Through the program's history, the women have won seven Ivy League titles, while the men have won five Ivy League Championships, and both will be looking to add to that number this weekend. 

Phoebe Anderson is one of two All-Ivy League performers returning from last year's squad, finishing fifth overall at Van Cortlandt Park with a time of 21:08.0. This season, Anderson's best finish came at the Virginia Invitational, where she finished 4th in a 5k with a time of 16:23.8. Her best time in a 6k came at the Nuttycombe Invite, where she placed 17th with a time of 20:16.5. 

Elia Ton-That, the reigning Columbia Athletics Female Rookie of the Year, was named Second Team All-Ivy last year, placing 11th at Heps after clocking in with a time of 21:29.7. This season, Ton-That's most notable performance also came in the Virginia Invitational, where she finished 53rd with a time of 17:11.90. 

Captains Jacob Ireland and Nikki Vanasse also have high expectations heading into the meet. Ireland was a scorer in the men's steeplechase at the Ivy League Heps last spring, and has been improving every single time he competes. Earlier this season, he came out on top in the Brown 8k with a time of 24:26.8 at the Paul Short Run. Meanwhile Vanasse, an NCAA Regional qualifier in the 1,500m last season, is ready to go fresh off a time of 21:03.5 at the Nuttycombe Invite. 

Ireland and Owen Lockyer are the men's top-performing returners from Ivy Heps last season, finishing 47th and 53rd respectively. 

For more about the 2023 Ivy League Heps, including information about the course, travel information, and credentials, visit the Ivy League's tournament central HERE, 

To follow along with the meet as it happens, live results can be found HERE. 

The entire meet will be streamed live via ESPN+, and you can watch it HERE. 

Following Ivy League Heps, the Lions will send a team to compete at the NCAA East Regionals, which will be hosted at Van Cortlandt Park for the second straight year on Friday, November 10. The meet will begin at 11:00 a.m.
 
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