NEW YORK, N.Y. (10/31/08) – The Princeton men and women’s cross country teams have brought Princeton its first Ivy League titles of the 2008-09 academic year, winning the Ivy League Heptagonals on Friday, Oct. 31 at Van Cortlandt Park. The victories were the third straight by both squads.

The men’s team posted a championship best score of 58, beating out second-place Columbia by three points. Cornell was third, followed by Dartmouth, Brown, Harvard, Yale and Penn.

Senior Michael Maag finished in second place, covering the course in 24:32.4, the fastest time a Princeton runner has recorded in the championship since 1981. Junior Ben Sitler and freshman Brian Leung finished in the top 10, taking places four and six. Sitler posted a time of 24:26.1, with Leung not far behind at 24:48.8. Maag, Sitler and Leung’s finishes qualified them as first-team all-Ivy League harriers.

Senior Cameron Marantz and sophomore Rob Speare were the other two runners whose times contributed to Princeton’s score. Marantz clocked in at 25:23.4 and Speare at 25:29.5.

Finishing in under 26 minutes, was senior Bryan Sharkey at 25:40.6 and freshman Trevor Van Ackeren at 25:47.9. Also competing for the Tigers was sophomore Zack Predmore, junior Jimmy Joy and freshmean Max Kaulbach, Peter Maag and Sean Wilson.

The win is Princeton’s 14th Ivy League Heptagonal title.

The Tigers hosts the NCAA Mid-Atlantic Regional on Saturday, Nov. 15.

Princeton Finishers
2. Michael Maag (24:32.4)
4. Ben Sitler (24:46.1)
6. Brian Leung (24:48.8)
22. Cameron Marantz (25:23.4)
25. Rob Speare (25:29.5)
32. Bryan Sharkey (25:40.6)
39. Trevor Van Ackeren (25:47.9)
49. Zack Predmore (26:07.6)
51. Jimmy Joy (26:15.8)
53. Max Kaulbach (26:19.2)
63. Peter Maag (26:30.8)
73. Sean Wilson (26:56.5)