Princeton Women Win Ivy Heps Title Again

The Tigers captured their third straight Ivy Heptagonal Championships women's cross country title by 39 points at Highland Park, Mass.

Updated on Nov. 6, 2026 in Track & Field

Princeton's women's cross country team won its third straight Ivy Heptagonal title on Saturday at Highland Park, Mass., by 39 points. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

Princeton's women's cross country team won the Ivy Heptagonal Championships by 39 points, claiming the title for the third consecutive year. Three Tigers placed in the top five and six earned All-Ivy Honors.

Why it matters

The win extends Princeton's dominance in Ivy cross country and sets up its women's team to compete at NCAA Mid-Atlantic Regionals. Princeton's 33-point score tied for the all-time 17th-best Ivy Heps score.

The 33-point team score ties for the 17th-best all-time Ivy Heps score, and Emma de Jong finished second in 20:25 over 6K. Princeton's margin of 39 points came over the runner-up field.

The players

Emma de Jong

Princeton distance runner who placed second at the Ivy Heptagonal Championships.

Allison Lee

University of Pennsylvania runner who won the Ivy Heptagonal Championships, the first Quaker to do so.

The details

Princeton won the Saturday race at Highland Park, Mass., with Emma de Jong second in 20:25, Anna McNatt third in 20:28 and Caroline Barton fourth in 20:36. Allison Lee of Penn led the race and became the first Quaker to win the title, while the field went out fast with the front pack crossing 2K at 6:32.

Saturday: Ivy Heptagonal Championships held at Highland Park, Mass.
Friday, Nov. 13: Princeton women's team races at Mid-Atlantic Regionals.

Season Trajectory

Princeton women last qualified for the NCAA Championships as a team in 2018, after placing fifth at Heps last year. The third straight Heps title now positions the program to compete at Mid-Atlantic Regionals next week.

Princeton's win at Heps and its qualification for Mid-Atlantic Regionals determines which Tigers advance to the national stage. Fans tracking the team can follow the Friday regional race in Bethlehem, Pa.

The takeaway

Princeton's three straight Heps titles show sustained depth in the women's distance program. Watch the Mid-Atlantic Regionals next Friday for whether that depth carries into the NCAA stage.

What happens next

Princeton's women's team will compete at NCAA Mid-Atlantic Regionals on Friday, Nov. 13, and the men's and women's teams will race there in Bethlehem, Pa.