XC Wins ECAC University Race

The Columbia cross-country teams competed in their final meets of the season this weekend at the Eastern Collegiate Athletic Conference University race (ECAC) and the Intercollegiate Association of Amateur Athletes of America (IC4A) Championships. The men's team placed sixth in the IC4A event, while the women's team won the 5k ECAC university race with 107 points.

The competition highlighted the strength of other Ivy League programs. The Cornell women took home the ECAC Championship race, followed by Harvard finished second place. The Big Red's track program has always been strong, and a win like this one does not ease the Light Blue's woes. Cornell and Princeton came in fourth and fifth respectively in the IC4A race. The results are hardly surprising, as both schools are known for their track prowess.

Columbia did not race its top runners this weekend, but the individuals who did run managed to place well amongst their competition. On the women's team, sophomore Julianne Quinn finished first for the Light Blue in seventh place. The rest of the Lions followed shortly behind her, with sophomore Katherine Carrington and junior Serita Lachesis finishing together in 18th and 19th place, and freshman Leila Norman and sophomore Jillian Pollack in 28th and 37th place.

For the men's group, freshman Justin Heck was the top finisher, coming in 11th. Senior Dan Whitt came in 20th place and the remaining Lions dropped off a bit, with sophomore Jacob Enke, senior Ryan Johns, and freshman Miles Becker trailing at 50th, 56th, and 59th.

Although this meet was the last for the cross-country season, senior Megan Lessard will be racing in the NCAA Championships today at Indiana State University. Lessard will be running as an individual after placing tenth at the NCAA Northeast Regional Championships.