Senior Natalie McAllister busted her own school record – twice – in the 60-meter hurdles and fueled Cornell’s women’s team to a tight runner-up finish at Saturday’s Hilltop Invitational in the arena of the Small Athletic and Wellness Center.
Cornell won five women’s events and came within one single point of Grinnell for the team title in a 103-102 battle at the top. Mount Mercy rounded out the top three with 94 points.
The Rams also competed well in the six-team men’s division, placing third with 77 points. Mount Mercy posted a winning score of 145 points, followed by Grinnell with 86.
McAllister clocked the two fastest 60 hurdles times in Cornell history in a matter of a few hours Saturday before the home fans. The reigning Midwest Conference Track Performer of the Week ran 9.15 seconds in the prelims and then lowered her program standard again in the finals, winning the race with a top 25 national mark of 9.07.
McAllister also led off the winning 4×200 relay that included first-years Hailey Carolan, Olivia Cotton and junior anchor Caitlyne Mar. The quartet finished in 1:53.16, beating Grinnell by .42 seconds.
Carolan cleared 5-3.50 to claim a victory in the high jump, which saw McAllister take second (5-1.50).
The Rams secured individual titles from junior Sidney Brown in the 400 (1:02.47) and first-year Alyza Koppes in the 800 (2:30.92). Brown and Koppes were members of the 4×400 relay that finished a close second to Grinnell in 4:30.72.
Katie Lammers crossed the line second in the 3000 (11:06.74). Carolan was third in the 60 hurdles (9.87) and Caroline Riss third in the 400 (1:06.16).
Impressive first-year Thomas Coble paced Cornell’s men with a pair of titles in the distance events. Coble won the mile in 4:29.64, followed by teammate Gabe Soda in second (4:32.16).
Coble ran on the championship 4×800 relay that featured Soda, Isaak Hutchings and anchor Fisher Isaacson. The foursome crossed in 8:11.39.
Hutchings (2:05.02) and Isaacson (2:06.50) went 2-3 in the 800. Sophomore Thomas Machande was runner-up in the 400 (53.23), just .05 seconds behind the leader. Cornell’s second-place 4×200 relay of Niko Platre, Gavin Soukup, Machande and Doniel Greiner was clocked in 1:35.61.
The Rams received fourth-place efforts from Jake Coon in the 60 hurdles (10.24), Soukup in the long jump (19-1.5) and Cade Cowan in the high jump (5-7).
Coming up – The Rams compete at the Spartan Invitational next Saturday, Jan. 28 at the University of Dubuque.