The New Balance Invitational served as a milestone meet for the Light Blue’s winter season as Columbia track and field delivered solid performances against its toughest foes yet. Competing against the top teams and individual athletes in the country, the Lions—notably the distance runners—came out with experience that will help them gear up for the spring season.

Until this weekend, Columbia had yet to face off against such high-level opponents, racing in Ivy League invitationals and tri-meets. But over the course of this meet, the Lions brought their full arsenal of athletes and provided their distance squad with what was almost a season debut in the face of worthy opponents.

On the first day of competition, the women’s team garnered some high finishes. Senior Stephanie Lenihan, racing in the 5,000-meter championship event, placed fifth, and freshmen Abbie Dubin-Rhodin and Samantha Lee took 11th and 37th in the 800-meter race. Fellow freshman Erin Hays, coming off of a strong cross-country season, placed 18th in the 1,000-meter event behind Penn runner Anna Aagenes. Junior Alaina Miller came in 25th in the 3,000-meter in a notable 10:12.44, followed by junior Megan Lessard and senior Shelby Leland in 28th and 29th.

Senior Dan Whitt, competing for the men’s team in the 5,000-meter race, finished ninth, while junior Ryan Hays and freshman Tom Poland came in 12th and 14th in the 3,000-meter event. The Lions finished in a tight pack in the 1,000-meter race, with senior Jonah Rathbun taking fifth, freshman Jeff Moriarty placing eighth, and sophomore William Ballenthin coming in 14th.

The second day of contests proved to be fruitful for Columbia’s relay teams, with the women’s 4x400-meter relay winning its event and the men’s 4x800 coming in third. The distance runners then continued to pull through for Columbia. Senior co-captain Carmen Ballard, racing in the 3,000-meter championship, took 12th with an impressive time of 9:50.61, and freshman Jackie Drouin placed 16th in the one-mile championship.

The men’s 800-meter was a strong race for the Lions, with senior Liam Boylan-Pett crossing in 10th place, followed by Moriarty, sophomore Michael Mark, and Rathbun. Junior Jeff Randall, competing in the 3,000-meter championship heat, finished in 16th place.

The Light Blue will compete next Friday at the Armory Track and Field Center in the Lafayette-Rider Invitational.