Track & Field: Indoor teams set out to defend last season's Ivy League championships

While most students are counting down the days until they can return home for winter break, the men’s and women’s track and field teams are preparing for their home opener at the Indoor New Year’s Invitational on Saturday in Jadwin Gymnasium. Eleven other schools will be competing, including in-state rivals Rider, Rutgers and The College of New Jersey.

After a slightly disappointing season last year, the women are hoping to start the season off on the right foot.

“We ended last year with a disappointing fourth-place finish at 2010 Ivy League Heptagonal Championships. For my class, that’s the first time that we hadn’t won or been runner-up in a championship meet,” senior captain Thanithia Billings said. “So we’re looking to get back at the top of the Ivy League.”

Senior Emma Ruggiero and Billings finished first and second in the weight throw last year at the New Year’s Invitational, with throws of 17.21 meters and 16.26 meters, respectively. The team has been training since the beginning of the school year and is looking forward to seeing where the hard work has brought them before the holidays.

Last year, the Tigers won 16 of 25 events at the meet, including the men’s and women’s mile, 300 meters and 1,000 meters. Princeton was also very competitive in jumping and throwing, sweeping the pole vault and long jump and winning the women’s weight throw.

“I believe this is the most well-rounded team we have had since I’ve been at Princeton,” senior captain Dion Lehman said. “We have had great teams in the past, but this year we have guys in every event that can score points for the team.”

Junior Isaac Serwanga and Lehman finished first and third in the long jump last year, leaping to 7.12 meters and 7.11 meters, respectively. The men have already had a successful fall season, with the cross country team winning the NCAA regional meet and placing 12th at nationals, the best finish in the history of the team.

However, after being edged out of first place last year by Cornell by just 36 points at the 2010 Outdoor Heptagonal Championships, the Tigers have set a goal of winning the Triple Crown — Heps for cross country, indoor track and field, and outdoor track and field. With one accomplished already, the men are anxious to get another underway.

“This upcoming meet is really a rust-buster for the guys. For the freshmen this will be the first performance in a Princeton jersey — the first time competing as college athletes,” junior captain Donn Cabral said. “For everyone competing, this is a reintroduction to competitive racing, jumping or throwing since the spring. This will be a good indication of where we stand.”

For both teams, staying healthy this season is one of the primary goals to help defend their indoor Heps titles and getting back the outdoor Heps title. Competing hard while avoiding injury may sometimes be easier said than done. The field events begin at 11 a.m. on Saturday with the men’s weight throw, and the track events begin at noon with the women’s 60-meter hurdles.After this invitational the Tigers break until Jan. 8th, when they face off against Navy.

Correction: An earlier version of this article said the women's track and field team finished in second place at the 2009 outdoor Heptagonal Meet when in fact, the Tigers finished fourth.