The closest the Crimson (1-2) would come was after the 200 meters, when junior Amanda Williams (25.92) led a Harvard sweep of the top three spots. The strong showing closed the gap to one point at 32-31.
However, Cornell took control of the meet after that, winning the next five events to clinch the victory. Harvard then took the last two events--the mile relay and the two mile relay--but at that point it was impossible for the Crimson to catch up to the Big Red.
"Cornell's one of the best teams in the Ivy League," senior Meredith Fitzgerald (second in 3000 m, 10:09.02 said. "I lost to a girl that has won the heptagonals three times. Going to practice was a little sporadic over exam period, [but] Cornell's also a very good team."
On the plus side for Harvard, junior Karen Goetze came back from a calf injury to finish second in the 400 meters behind Williams.
A Speeding Carswell
In other Harvard track news, sophomore Ian Carswell has qualified for the NCAA National meet and broken a Harvard school record in one race. While competing in the B.U. Terrier Classic--a sort of a Pro Bowl for collegiate track--Carswell finished the 3000 meters in 8:01.11.
The time wasn't good enough for first place in the event but was better than any Crimson runner had ever done before. Plus, by being under 8:01.5 it earned Carswell an automatic place in the Nationals in the second week of March. Carswell started out in front of the second pack of runners and ran the first mile in 4:19--pretty good, but not a cause for celebration.
With two laps to go, however, he was in fourth place. Then Carswell turned on the afterburners.
"I was back in the pack a little ways," Carswell said, "and I brought it in pretty soon."
He kicked in an amazing 2:01 for the last 800 meters of the race and finished second to Georgetown's Andy Dounin by a nose.
The old Harvard record was 8:01.79, set by Cliff Sheen.
"I was hoping to run under 8:10," Carswell said. "After the race I knew that I did that, and my coach told me that I got 8:01, and I knew the Harvard record was 8:01-something. I have more confidence in my kick now--it helps to know that you have it in yourself."