Tigers’ Costello, Higginson go back-to-back
By Justin Feil, Assistant Sports Editor
PHILADELPHIA — West Windsor-Plainsboro South junior Katie Kellner got her first taste of running the Penn Relays on Thursday night.
Princeton University’s Liz Costello and Ashley Higginson already considered running there special, and their back-to-back wins later Thursday night made for two more reassuring memories.
”I love this event,” said Costello, a sophomore who won the 3,000 meters in convincing fashion Thursday. “I’m from Pennsylvania, outside Philadelphia. I love it. It’s one of my favorite meets of the year. I love this stadium. I love everything about it. I get excited about this meet in December. Just talking about it gets me excited. So there is something special about it.”
Costello ran a variety of relays while at Conestoga High School, but hadn’t yet competed in the 3,000 distance or any race yet in the outdoor season until Thursday. Her winning time of 9 minutes, 35.01 seconds was somewhat slower than she wanted but she was not pushed in her first time competing in an individual event at the Penn Relays.
Higginson was a veteran individual competitor, something that played a big role in a big confidence booster Thursday. The PU freshman was two-time scholastic girls’ 3,000-meter champion and finished third as a sophomore at Penn Relays while running for Colts Neck High. But since coming to the Tigers, she hadn’t had a win of the magnitude of Thursday’s 5,000 meters.
”I had to show up tonight,” said Higginson after winning in 16:22.56. “This is my favorite track, my favorite race of the year. It was a great way to kick off a new level of my college career.”
Kellner kicked off her career at Penn Relays by finishing 19th in the scholastic girls’ 3,000 meters in 10:11.95. She hopes to return next year.
”I was real excited,” Kellner said. “My coach let me come watch my freshman and sophomore year. I was always very jealous of my teammates who got to run because I wanted to run too. I set my goal during track season to quality for Penn. I was really excited to be here.
”It was definitely one of the most aggressive races I was in,” she added. “There were a lot of people who ran very similar times. There was a lot of shoving and pushing and hitting each other. There were a lot of people, which made it really different than any other race I’ve ever run.”
Some of those differences made the experience more valuable for her. She ran almost 20 seconds faster than she had at the indoor Hispanic Games in January and covered the 3,000 faster than she had in her first 3,000 of her best two-mile race. She credits the toughest competition she has faced this spring.
”I don’t know what place I finished in, but there were definitely a lot of people ahead of me, more than usual,” she said. “Just having that competition is so fun for me. Usually you end up having a better time so it makes it fun.”
Making her first trip to the Penn Relays easier to adjust to was having several competitors from New Jersey, most notably Clare Buck of Hopewell Valley. Having been through it once, Kellner is hoping for a faster return in 2009.
”It’s always easier doing stuff again,” she said. “It’s not as intimidating.”
West Windsor-Plainsboro North’s 4×800 relay of Tyler Corkdale, John LiPuma, Steve Au-Yeung and Ryan Sleeper broke their school record to finish second in their heat in 7:58.08 on Friday.
Higginson produced her most encouraging result of the spring Thursday. She finished first while teammate Sarah Cummings was third in the 5,000. Costello won the race before her and Megan Brandeland was second in the 3,000 steeplechase that preceded the 3,000 meters.
”In the distances,” Higginson said, “we’re looking to make a name for ourselves every time here, I’d like to think. Hopefully we do.”
Higginson has been solid for the Tigers, but not spectacular yet. She has spent her first year of college adjusting to a daily routine that has not been routine. A familiar scene and race helped her return to top form.
”It’s so exciting to come to a meet where I am a bit more understanding of my environment because I’ve run here, I’ve felt this pressure and I’ve felt this pace,” Higginson said. “To come here where there are so many memories of the past, was finally the transition I needed. I think I’ve had a tougher time than most. I’m so excited about it.”
Costello’s transitioned last year into one of the top big-meet performers for the Tigers. After a minor foot injury healed, Costello returned to the track in a longer distance than usual. But the familiarity of Penn Relays helped make it a more enjoyable run. Winning topped it off.
”Especially because my old high school coach is here, some of my old high school teammates are here, and obviously my college teammates are here and my friends that I’ve made on other teams are here,” Costello said. “There’s definitely a strong home crowd. That presence helps me, besides my family, to bring out something a little more.
”Hearing ‘Liz’ or ‘Stello’ on the track helps a lot to keep me focused. Even if you’re not feeling good, if you hear them, you want to look strong just so they have a reason to cheer and get excited.”
There was plenty of reason to cheer as the Princeton University women put on a spectacular show Thursday night. It just confirmed why they have found competing at Penn Relays so special.
”The spirit here is exciting,” Higginson said. “It’s an aura like no other being under the lights here. It’s a great experience.”