This weekend Dartmouth's Leverone Fieldhouse and the men's and women's track teams will play host to the rest of the Ivy League and Navy at the League's championship meet, the Heptagonals.
Both teams figure to be in the middle of the hunt for a title in a hotly contested race, and the top finishers could come in any order. Coaches and athletes alike emphasize that in an emotional meet like the Heps, anything can happen.
"We do tend to get ourselves very ready for this meet," Assistant Coach Ellen O'Neil said.
In 1992, when Dartmouth last hosted the event, Navy narrowly edged the Big Green for the title on the men's side while the Brown women powered to a first place finish which was to be the first of their three consecutive indoor titles.Last year at Cornell, the Dartmouth men finished third while the women came in at fifth. This year the script may be different. The Penn and Princeton men took the top two spots in last year's meet, and both teams are back this year with just as much talent. Navy will challenge for the title as well.
The women's team has never finished higher than third at the indoor Heps, but they are looking to change that this weekend. If they are to win, they will have to get past Penn, Brown and Harvard, a formidable task.
"There are four top teams and depending on how things go, either one can be one, two, three, or four," women's co-Captain Amy Winchester '96 said.
Building on their complete dominance of the Cross Country Heps this fall, the Green has a good start towards winning this year's titles. The teams are also counting on points from the field events to add to their scores, but to win they will need inspired performances across the board.
The women will be led by a talented quintet in the middle and distance events. The experience of Maribel Sanchez '96, co-Captain Kristin Manwaring '96 and Kristin Pierce '96 combined with the efforts of Jenna Rogers '98 and Deidre Milligan '98 will be a force to be reckoned with, especially in the 3,000 and 5,000 meter runs. The group will look to pick up points in other races as well.
It is weight event specialist Winchester, however, who individually brings the most clout into the Big Green's title charge. She has won five Heptagonal titles in the shot put alone, including last year's crown. She will be looking to break her own school record in the shot.
Sprinter Helene Sisti '96 and jumper Pilar Rodriguez '97 have also proven that they can place in the big meets and will look to pick up a few crucial points in the events that the team must do well in order to win the title. Rodriguez has consistently finished in the top few spots in both the long and the triple jump all year.
Though they will be competing in their first championship meet of their college careers, thrower Wendy Skelton '99 and high jumper Aurda Rovinski '99 should fare well.
On the men's side, solid depth in the distance events will be the key for the Green. Co-Captain Jack Dwyer '96 is a favorite in the 5,000 meter run. Chris Langan '96 and Don Conrad '99 should also fare well in that event and the 3,000 meter run.
In the middle distance events, any number of Dartmouth runners could place well. Co-Captain Brian Barry '96, Tim Farrell '96, Ryan Donovan '96, and Jim Tuxbury '97 have all had strong seasons and will try to pick up some points.
Greg Johnston '99 is a favorite in the pentathlon as well as a contender in a few other events. Thrower Alex Ghanotakis '97 is expected to pick up points in hammer.
"I hope we can use the home field advantage to our advantage," Dwyer said. "We can get more people we know to support us during the race. That helps a lot, to transfer the energy of the fans into our performances."
Events will run all day on Saturday and Sunday.
