Heps Cross Country 2011

I've heard flat and fast. Some people were joking about how they will add some logs to make it more challenging.

As for the Princeton course: It's grass-- and depending on how well-mowed it is, it can be fast or slow. Also it depends on the weather. NCAA Regionals was there a few years ago, and it was super rainy. The course was a total mudbath and the times were really slow. I remember seeing even Frances Koons run like 21mins for a 6k.

No substantial hills (at least compared to VCP), but not 100% flat. It can be sort of deceptive. It's looped, which I guess is good for spectating. There's about a 3k loop that they combine with other loops to make up the different distances.

Does this mean the women's race will be a 6k? or is it a 5k still?

I agree with C/M runner-- it'll be nice to have it on saturday so more alums can come! I know I'll be glad not to have a "doctor's appt" that friday morning.

"Deceptive" is the right word for it. It can run fast, but it's less flat than it looks.

It's a good course for spectators, especially if you're willing to jog around a little.

I don't actually think there is a 5K marked out, so the women's race should be 6K (I've measured one out there myself, so it's not like they couldn't do 5K if they wanted, but there'd be no point).

Hepstrack.com has a good feature (with helpful links) on the Princeton course:

http://hepstrack.com/blog/2011/07/21/heps-xc-moves-to-princeton/

I'm only familiar with the Princeton track location. Where is the XC course in relation to the track? On the other side of campus? Or right nearby?

C/M Runner wrote:

I'm only familiar with the Princeton track location. Where is the XC course in relation to the track? On the other side of campus? Or right nearby?

It's on the other side of the rowing pond from the track and Jadwin. You pass it on the right if you come in from Rte 1 on Washington.

In other news.

Yale men's XC and Distance coach Dan Ireland was announced today as the new director of track and XC at La Salle

harvard 1.48/3.41 UK runner, will he run cross?

Thanks for the tbUSA link. Interesting stuff:

"tbUSA – How will being on an academic scholarship affect your obligations to compete for the team? What are your athletic aspirations?

"AC – I will obviously join the track team out at Harvard, however as I’m not on a sports scholarship I have no obligations to the team. I will be able to [choose] what races I do. . . .

"tbUSA – With the Olympics barely a year away, how do you intend to give yourself the best possible chance of qualifying for the Great Britain Team? Will you compete in full NCAA seasons next year?

"AC – I [actually] intend on keeping my current coach John Nuttall for my first year as training and racing this year has just gone so well. I know for certain that I will not compete in a full outdoor season but will have to wait to see which races John wants me to do.

[NB: Unless the situation is different for internationals--I don't believe it is?--there are actually no "academic" scholarships in the Ivy League. If he is to receive financial aid, it would be based on family need.

[Everyone should understand, however, that Harvard does offer extraordinarily good need-based aid to all its students, athletes and nonathletes alike. Helps to explain why H. should--and does!--get some extravagantly talented frosh.

[Also explains why Cornell, for instance--again, for athletes and nonathletes--has said that it will match the scholarship package offered by any other Ivy school.]

Wow, it sounds like he is doing a Chris Lambert (H '03, All-American in 200m in outdoors 2003). Chris came to Harvard, wanting to keep his British sprint coach, but for his frosh and soph years, the Harvard coaches said no so Chris did not run for Harvard. The coaches finally allowed it for his junior year, which was when Chris finally broke onto the scene. Kudos to Jason Saretsky for allowing Adam to keep his coach.

In other news: Eddie Owens came 2nd in the steeple at the Pan Am games, running a 9:02.xx. I was wondering how he will be training during the XC season as Princeton could have the potential of having 2 men All-Americans in the steeple in 2012 (in my opinion).

kudos? So, sartetsky will allow this kid to do whatever he wants whenever he wants to do it team be damned for individual pursuits and that calls for kudos?

notshure wrote:

So, sartetsky will allow this kid to do whatever he wants whenever he wants to do it team be damned for individual pursuits and that calls for kudos?

From the Harvard standpoint, very possibly.

I think we have to acknowledge that H is more of an international school than the rest of the Ivies; and that most internationals come from a club background, rather than from a high school program (and coach) that they would expect to "jettison" upon reaching college (as most North Americans do).

H attracts a lot of talent. The t&f/xc program there develops some of those talents magnificently; others, not so much. If Saretsky and staff are cool with letting a successfully-coached athlete continue with his her coach; with having a part-time athlete, who realistically might contribute in some situations (like Heps and perhaps NCAAs, which are what really matter in the Ivy League) but find it unwise to do so in others; with building a team that mixes (successfully, one hopes) full-timers and part-timers, then I say more power to them.

A very similar (outside coaching, limited competition) situation obtained when G. Rupp was at Oregon. I'd bet that most UO fans and most of Rupp's teammates would say that his participation was a net plus.

Columbia men have announced their incoming class:

Name Event Hometown High School Personal Records

Casey Adams Middle Distance Spokane, Wash. North Central Mile - 4:13

Kevin Boyd Sprints Vancouver, Wash. Skyview 400m - 49.1

Nate Brennand Distance Olympia, Wash. Olympia 3200m - 9:02, 1600m - 4:14

Connor Claflin Middle Distance Indianapolis, Ind. Lawrence Central 800m - 1:53.6 (Ran a 1:51 anchor leg in the New Balance Short Medley Relay Championships)

Brendon Donley Middle Distance Oak Park, Ill. Oak Park-River Forest 800m - 1:52

Daniel Everett Middle Distance Creve Coeur, Mo. Westminster Christian Academy Mile - 4:06, 800m - 1:54 (Missouri State Champion in the mile; finished third in the New Balance National mile championship)

Ben Eversole Distance Castro Valley, Calif. Castro Valley 3200m - 8:59, 1600m - 4:15

Brendon Fish Middle Distance Madison, Conn. Daniel Hand 800m - 1:53.1, 400m - 49.7 (Connecticut/New England champion in the 800m)

Justin Montgomery Sprints San Jose, Calif. Bellarmine 400m - 49.0

Daniel Nestor Distance Madison, Conn. Daniel Hand 1600m - 4:14, 3200m - 9:25

Sam Place Distance Saratoga Springs, N.Y. Saratoga Springs 1600m - 4:18, 3200m - 9:21 (Nike Cross Nationals New York champion)

Justin Rebfeldt Distance Cherry Valley, Ill. Rockford Christian Mile - 4:17 (Illinois 1A state champion)

Colin Richmond Distance Spring Lake Heights, N.J. St. Rose 1600m - 4:16

Paul Ross Distance Claremont, Calif. Claremont 3200m - 9:00, 1600m - 4:17

Columbia women also announced their incoming class:

Nicole Bauer Middle Distance Calgary, Alberta, Canada Lord Beaverbrook 400m - 56.3, 800m - 2:12

Anne Carey Distance Patchogue, N.Y. St. John the Baptist Mile - 4:58.35, 3200m - 10:45.01

Samantha Chace Middle Distance Warwick, R.I. Toll Gate 1500m - 4:44.37, 800m - 2:14.40 (1000m and 1500m Indoor State Champion.)

Jennifer DeSouchet Middle Distance Alamosa, Colo. Alamosa 800m - 2:12.98

Nadia Eke Sprints/Jumps Worcester, Mass. Holy Name Triple jump - 41'9.75", Long jump - 18'11.4", 100m - 12.1 (Two-time state and New England triple jump champion.)

Aryn Foland Distance Mira Costa, Calif. Mira Costa 3200m - 10:23.33, 1600m - 4:57.61

Joanna Korinuis Throws Westbury, N.Y. Carle Place Discus - 150'6" (Two-time State Champion in discus.)

Kaylin Mahoney Distance Saugus, Calif. Saugus 3200m - 10:25.40, 1600m - 4:54.10 (2008 California Cross Country State Champion. Three top 15 finishes at Nike Cross Country Nationals)

Waverly Neer Distance Russiaville, Ind. Culver Academy 5000m - 16:35.15, 3000m - 9:16.32, 1600m - 4:43.66, 3200m - 10:20.66 (5000m National Champion and National Record holder, 3000m USATF Junior National Champion.)

Rachel Ngu Middle Distance Syosset, N.Y. Syosset 1600m - 4:59.60, 800m - 2:14.9

Madeline Rathbun Middle Distance Seattle, Wash. Lakeside School 800m - 2:11.95, 1600m - 4:55.78 (Three-time state champion in the 800m.)

Klarrisa Ricks Sprints/Jumps Albany, N.Y. Academy of Holy Names Long jump - 19'10.75", 100m - 11.96, 60m - 7.50

(Finished third in the nation in the 60m dash at the High School National Championships. Won the long jump at the 2011 Penn Relays.)

yeah i think harvard would of compromised anything to get this guy in. I wonder what his grades were like.

Princeton also announced recruiting class, Very solid.

http://www.goprincetontigers.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=46878&SPID=4268&DB_LANG=C&DB_OEM_ID=10600&ATCLID=205181314

PRINCETON, N.J. (7/13/11) - Princeton men's track & field and cross country coaches Fred Samara and Steve Dolan are proud to announce Princeton's 2011 recruiting class.

"This diverse recruiting class displays Princeton's world reach as the class includes students from five countries and eight states," head track & field coach Fred Samara said. "I'm confident that this group will play a major role in our team's future success."

"We are elated about the addition of such talented group of student-athletes that excel in a wide variety of events," head cross country coach Steve Dolan said. "We look forward to helping them chase their athletic and academic potential here at Princeton."

DISTANCE & MIDDLE DISTANCE

After a record-breaking year, the Tigers future is bright as they welcome a very talented class to an excellent core of returners in this event group. Below are the very accomplished newcomers.

Michael Eggleton from St. Paul's Collegiate School in New Zealand was runner-up at the New Zealand U20 Track Nationals in 2010 at 800 meters. He has a personal best of 1:52.60.

Connor Martin is a graduate of Westfield High School in Indiana where he anchored the winning DMR at the Indiana indoor state meet. Martin closed out an outstanding prep career with personal bests of 4:10.03 for 1600 meters and 9:04.29 in the two mile.

Michael Mazzaccaro comes to Princeton from one of the most storied high school programs on the east coast in Christian Brothers Academy of New Jersey. He had a great high school career that included anchoring CBA to a win in the DMR at the Penn Relays and a 15th-place individual finish at the Nike Cross Country Nationals. Mazzaccaro's prep bests are 4:09.53 and 9:02.46 in the 1600 and 3200 meters.

Matt McDonald from North Hunterdon High School in New Jersey qualified for the Foot Locker National Cross Country Championships and was the New Jersey state indoor champion in the 3200. His personal best in the 3200 is 9:04.82 and he has run 4:15.76 for 1600 meters.

Eddie Owens of Packer Collegiate in Brooklyn, N.Y., had an amazing senior year. He ran the fastest steeplechase of all preps in the U.S., as he clocked 8:59.53. Owens also finished runner-up in the steeplechase at the USA Junior Championships to qualify for the Pan American Games. In the fall, Owens capped a great cross country season with an eighth-place finish at the Footlocker Cross Country Finals. He has a best of 9:04.90 in the 3200 meters as well, which he clocked during the indoor season. (Owens is featured on the front page photo)

Bradley Paternostro from Ramapo High School was the New Jersey state champion in the 800-meter run in 2010. He just missed defending his title in 2011 as he finished runner-up in a personal best time of 1:50.72. Paternostro also shows good potential in the mile as he boasts a 1600 meter personal best of 4:14.12.

Sam Pons of South Pasadena High School won the California state championship in the 3200-meter run as a junior and was runner-up in the same event this past spring. He closed out his senior year with one of the top 3200-meter times in the county at 8:50.67. Pons also displayed good middle distance speed as he ran a personal best of 4:10.37 for 1600 meters. He is equally adept on the cross country course as he was California Division III State Champion and a Nike National Finalist.

SPRINTS & HURDLES

This group of newcomers should make an immediate impact on the Tigers already strong sprint and hurdle crew. The group includes the following four strong competitors.

William Egi from St. Andrew's College in Ontario, Canada has personal bests of 10.98 and 6.92 in the 100 and 60-meter events respectfully. He also looks to have great potential at 200 meters as he develops as a collegiate sprinter. Egi will likely be a very valuable member of the Tigers 4x100 meter relay in the years to come.

Tommaso Greenbaum comes to Princeton from Rome, Italy where he attended Liceo Classico. He has consistently run under 10.90 in the 100 meters this spring. His current personal best is 10.76. Greenbaum is known for his rocket start so it should be fun to see what he will run in the 60 meters in college.

Daniel McCord had a great final year at Half Hallows High School in New York. He recorded the fastest 200 meters in the state with a time of 21.47. McCord also ran a strong 100 meters as he clocked 10.76. In addition to his success in the short sprints, he consistently ran as a member of the 4x400 meter relay team. That relay opportunity will certainly exist next year as three members from the Princeton 2011 NCAA finals quartet return.

A double threat in the hurdles, Rob Mohr comes to Princeton from Batavia High School in Illinois. Mohr posted one of the top times in Illinois for the 110-meter hurdles with a strong run of 14.17. He also had big breakthrough in the 300-meter hurdles this past spring clocking an impressive 37.58 in the event. Look for Mohr to display his talent in both the long and short hurdles for the Tigers.

JUMPS

Adam Bragg from El Toro High School in California should be a great addition to the Tigers national caliber pole vault crew. Bragg should be a threat to score in the Ivy League immediately as he has a best of 4.95 meters (16-3).

Nana Owusu-Nyantekyi earned the distinguished honor of most accomplished student-athlete at Eton College in England. He was the 2010 British junior champion in the triple jump and has a personal best of 14.89 meters (48-10.25).

Stephen Soerens displayed his great jumping ability on both the basketball court and track at Fayetteville High School in Arkansas. He will focus his attention on track at Princeton as he enters with personal bests of 2.01 meters (6-7) in the high jump and 14.4 (47-3) in the triple jump. With his size and all around athletic ability, Soerens has great potential in the multi-events as well.

THROWS

Scott Rushton of Episcopal High School in Pennsylvania will join already strong throwing unit. Rushton's primary event at the high school level was the shot put where he has a personal best of 18.22 (59-9.50). He was the Pennsylvania state indoor champion in 2011. Look for Rushton to excel in the 35 lb. weight and hammer events at Princeton as well.

you would think running those times, and if he wanteds the academic prestige as well the guy would of looked at more decent running programmes like standford etc. For a guy running that quick as a freshman I dont know if Harvard is the best palce but then again he is keeping his old coach so who knows.

C/M, thanks for supplying details about Columbia's recruits. Yeah, I think that justifies making the Lions at least co-favorites for the Heps women's title.

Cornell has not yet made its official announcement. I'm told they have one or two people who could be real gamechangers (and who don't yet appear on DyeStat or Milesplit), but I will hold off on any further comments until CU makes its announcements.

I *will* say that it seems like more and more HS student-athletes are getting the idea: that an Ivy education can actually cost one's family less than would going to Home State U. on, say, a half-ride athletic scholarship.

Granted, high school marks have been generally better in the last few years, but it really seems that the Ivy schools have been pulling in some *tremendous* talents lately.

Princeton announced the women recruiting class last night. Distance and middle distance look strong but I feel they could use some more in the throws as they only brought in one to replace the two All-Ivy throwers they are losing to graduation:

The Princeton women's track & field and cross country programs welcome 15 members as the Class of 2015. The cross country team adds seven, with an additional eight joining the track & field team.

"What a terrific class," said head coach Peter Farrell. "Princeton Women's Track is proud to pronounce the incoming class of 2015 and we feel we covered some bare spots left by the departure of the great class of 2011."

"First would be Nonny Okwelogu. An extremely promising thrower from California her shot best is out over 44' and her disc has gone beyond the 150 mark. She will hopefully make up for the departure of All-Ivy performers Thanithia Billings and Emma Ruggiero. Teju Adewole will be counted on to step in for the departing duo of Bianca Mathabane and Lauren Barber. We helped ourselves in the sprints with two good 400 runners, Cecilia Borowski and Emily Broyles, as well as a quality short sprinter in Emily Easton. We made a very strong middle distance corps even stronger with the addition of Andrea Keklak (2:06 for 800) and Kim MacKay (2:07). Our great cross country and distance running tradition should continue with the addition of Kathryn and Erika Fluehr and Jackie Nicholas, all Footlocker Finalists. Emily de la Bruyere has shown amazing versatility running well from the 800 to the 3K steeple. Gina Galt will add depth to the group. What I like most about this group is that they've already bonded together."

Distance & Middle Distance

The cross country team adds seven freshmen to its roster and the track team will be bolstered by their talents in the distance and middle distance.

Emily de la Bruyere (New York, N.Y./Brearley School) has a PR of 4:34.12 in the 1500, 9:42.45 in the 3k and a 6:50.67 in the 2k steeplechase. She is the 2011 NYSAIS (New York State Association of Independent Schools) outdoor champion in the steeplechase and the runner up in the 800. de la Bruyere finished third at the New Balance Nationals with a time of 6:50 in the steeplechase.

A second freshmen joins the Tigers with steeplechase experience. Jackie Nicholas (Woodbury, Conn./Nonnewaug) has a PR of 6:52.56 in the steeple and 4:58.67 in the 1600. Nicholas is a Footlocker Cross Country Finalist and has competed in the New Balance Indoor Nationals and the NB Nationals. She was fourth, behind de la Bruyere in the New Balance steeplechase at 6:52.

Sisters Kathryn and Erika Fluehr (Naples, Fla./Community) are both two-time Footlocker Cross Country Finalists. Katheryn boasts a PR of 16:42 in the 5k, 10:18 in the 3200 and 4:53 in the 1600. Erika has run 16:45 in the 5k, 10:24 in the 3200 and 4:54 in the 1600.

Andrea Keklak (Sudbury, Mass./Sudbury) is a two-time state champion in cross country and three-time state champion in track. She won the outdoor 800 in 2011 with a PR of 2:06.45, and was third in this year's New Balance Indoor Nationals running a PR of 4:49.67. Also during the indoor season, Keklak posted a PR of 1:32.95m in the 600.

Kim Mackay (Seaford, N.Y./Kellenberg) has a PR of 2:07.75 in the 800 and 4:38.82 in the 1500. She also has experience in the hurdles as the 2011 outdoor NSCHSAA Champion in the 400-meter hurdles. Mackay won the 2010 state title in the outdoor 800, indoor 1000 and also compete in the NB and New Balance Nationals.

Gina Talt (Larchmont, N.Y./Mamaroneck) owns a PR of 4:34.91 in the 1500 and 10:02.50 in the 3000. She has competed in the New Balance Indoor Nationals and the NB Nationals.

Additional distance and middle distance runners joining the track team are Cecilia Barowski (Amherst, N.H./Bishop Guerton), Sophie Harkins (Dunwood, Ga./Marist), and Rachel Skokowski (Palo Alto, Calif.Castilleja).

Barowski is a five-state state champion and the 2010 New England Champion in the indoor 600 and the runner-up in the 2010 outdoor 400. She has also competed at the NB Nationals and the Nike Indoor Nationals. Barowski owns PRs of 1:33.71 in the 600, 55.95 in the 400 and 2:12.83 in the 800.

Harkins tackles the 3200 and the 5000. She clocked in a 18:19.00 in the 5k and 11:05.67 in the 3200. Skokowski adds to the middle distance crew with marks of 2:18.81 in the 800 and 5:07.67 in the mile.

Sprints & Hurdles

Teju Adewole (Olney, Md./Good Counsel) will tackle the short sprints and the hurdles. She has a PR of 7.30 in the 55-meter dash, 8.75 in the 60-meter hurdles and 14.35 in the 100-meter hurdles. Adewole didn't compete in the outdoor state meet due to an injury but has competed in the Nike Indoor Nationals and the New Balance Indoor Nationals

Joining her in the sprints is Emily Easton (Manhasset, N.Y./Manhasset). Easton boasts PR's of 7.26 in the 55, 12.28 in the 100 and 25.16 in the 200. She was the 2011 Eastern States Champion in the 200 with a time of 25.16. Easton has competed at both the New Balance Indoor Nationals and Nike Indoor Nationals and is the 2011 indoor Section 8 Class B champion in the 55 and 300.

In the long sprints, Princeton welcomes Emily Broyles (Mansfield, Mass./Mansfield). A two-time state champion, Broyles owns PRs of 40.46 in the 300 and 56.54 in the 400.

Throws

Nonny Okwelogu (Fresno, Calif./Clovis) will be looked to make an immediate impact in the throws, as the Tigers lost three senior throwers to graduation. Okwelogu boasts PRs of 12.83 meters (42-1) in the shot put and 45.78 meters (150-10) in the discus. She is the 2011 Nike Nationals Champion, in the discus hitting her PR of 45.98 in the fourth round. (featured on front page photo)

Princeton adds javelin thrower Sarah Waszkewitz (Chelan, Wash./Chelan). Waszkewitz was third in the state meet when she threw a PR of 41.73 (136-11)

BRF wrote:

Thanks for the tbUSA link. Interesting stuff:

"tbUSA – How will being on an academic scholarship affect your obligations to compete for the team? What are your athletic aspirations?

"AC – I will obviously join the track team out at Harvard, however as I’m not on a sports scholarship I have no obligations to the team. I will be able to [choose] what races I do. . . .

and

C/M Runner wrote:

Kudos to Jason Saretsky for allowing Adam to keep his coach.

C/M runner,

What is wrong with society where we praise 100% selfishness?

The kid says he owes nothing to Harvard and has no "obligations to the team" and you are praising him and the coach?

That is the classic Ivy athlete syndrome in the year 2011. It's embarrassing really.

So many kids think because they aren't on an athletic scholarship, they owe nothing to the university. Are they serious?

Harvard turned down countless valedictorians and kids with 2400s on their SATs to let this kid in and supposedly let him shine for the track team and yet he doesn't think he owes the school anything. Plus, he's probably getting tons and tons of financial aid and there is no loyalty to them.

If I was Harvard, I wouldn't allow it.

If Harvard really thought about it, Harvard is basically admitting that their is no education process at the school. People don't actually learn anything at harvard - academically or athletically - they just recruit the best people and let them stick with their private coaches/tutors.

But maybe Harvard pretty much is fine with that. They are pretty much a graduate school anyway (2/3rds of all students are grad students) so developing people isn't their thing anyway.

After all, there two most famous 'alums' are dropouts in Bill Gates and Mark Zuckerberg.

Let me guess, Traditionalist, you hate the idea of these athletes making money to run as well. And that Fosbury flop ruined the high jump. And you are still pissed about the conversion of U.S. track to the metric system.