Women’s track has strong showing at Heptagonals thanks to super sophs

The Indoor Track Heptagonal Championships came to a close Sunday evening with Princeton replacing Cornell as this year’s double victor. Stellar performances were turned in by an array of Lion competitors, in two days that saw individual and relay titles alike, and the accolade Most Outstanding Performer among women awarded to sophomore sprint superstar Sharay Hale.

The women’s team fought a valiant battle, with many athletes—especially in the sprints—doubling and tripling in a bid for the top spot. The team’s effort was enough to defeat perennial powerhouse Cornell, but fell short of Princeton, 110-125.

Sophomore Monique Roberts solidified her role as the dominant high jumper within the league, taking the event with a mark of 1.73m. Her pentathlon jump of 1.77m was even better and helped her to a second-place finish and an 18-point contribution overall.

The 60m hurdles were a wellspring of points for Columbia, with sophomore Kyra Caldwell taking the title in 8.69 seconds and junior Melesa Johnson right behind at 8.84. Caldwell doubled back in the 200m to finish fourth in 25.08 and was part of the third-place finish in the 4x400, as well, bringing her personal contribution to 20 points.

But it was Hale, the last of the trio of super sophomores, whose presence was felt most. She wasted no time making her mark, winning the trial sections of both the 200 and 400m in heat record times. On day two, she dominated the 400m final, nearly two seconds ahead of the field at 53.79, and followed that performance with a second Heps title—this time in the 200m, which she covered in 24.20 seconds. She did not merely beat her competitors, but also went after the record books—the 24.20 time set a new Ivy record and the 53.79 mark stands as the second-fastest indoor 400m in Heps history. Hale anchored the women’s 4x400m relay, as well, bringing her personal point tally to an impressive 26.

Other notable performances were turned in by freshmen Nnenna Okwara and Yamira Bell, who finished second and third in the weight throw and 400m, respectively. Freshmen Dora Vegvari and Uju Ofoche finished third and fourth in the long jump, together contributing 10 points.

In the distance events, junior Jacqueline Drouin led the way with a third-place finish in the one-mile in 4:50.76. The women’s 4x800m—in which Drouin was joined by senior Serita Lachesis and freshmen Mallory Anderson and Patricia Reilly—finished third.

The Lion men placed fifth with 52 points, but were just outside of the podium as host Dartmouth took third with only 55 and Harvard trailed at fourth with 53. Their effort was more distance-fueled and quite remarkable, considering the lack of any points from the field whatever.

Sophomore Kyle Merber was the foremost contributor, winning each of the events in which he took part. The hotly contested 3k was a first individual Heps title for the young gun, following a team cross-country championship this fall.

Middle distance racked up 24 points from 800m to one mile. Senior Mike Mark and junior Matthew Stewart took third and fifth, respectively, in the shorter event for a total of six points. Junior Jeff Moriarty toughed out a 1k off of minimal training due to injury, finishing in third place—less than a second from the lead—after winning the event last year. Sophomore Matthew Casey took fifth. Freshman Mark Feigen and sophomore Adam Behnke got some championship experience in the one-mile, where they finished fourth and fifth, respectively.

The distance medley relay was a highlight event for the men, with senior Christopher Hays joined by three underclassmen: sophomore Justin Holloman at 400m, Behnke at 800m, and Merber at 1600m, to close. Their collective 9:53.03 was good for the title and a yard record for the indoor Heps.

The championships mark a close to the season for some, but others remain in contention for the IC4A championships and NCAAs. This weekend, Columbia will host a last-chance meet on the world-class armory track as an opportunity for those who haven’t hit NCAA standards thus far. Nationals will take place March 12-13 in Fayetteville, Ark.