Pictured: The Harvard track and field team opened its season at the Texas Southern Relays.
Photo Courtesy: Harvard Athletic Communications

HOUSTON, Texas. – Both the men's and women's distance runners had strong performances as the Harvard track and field team opened its outdoor season at the Texas Southern Relays March 19-20.

The Crimson women dominated the 3,000 meter run as Harvard runners occupied the top five spots in the race. Claire Richardson captured the event win with a time of 9:59.33and was followed, in order, by Nicole Cochran, Jeanne Mack, Hilary May and Jamie Olson. The 4x800 meter relay team of Magda Robak, Shannon Conway, Lauren Leon and Alison Lee took second with a time of 9:20.59 and the sprint medley relay team of Katrina Drayton, Jasmine Cho, Melissa Bellin and Kim O'Donnell placed third with a mark of 4:05.09. Harvard had a number of strong performances in the field events as Dina Emde took second in the high jump (1.65 meters), Sydnie Leroy placed second in the pole vault (3.50 meters) and Jessica Fronk finished second in the javelin with a throw of 45.41 meters.

On the men's side, Harvard's distance runners nearly matched the women's performance, taking the top four spots in the 3,000 meter run. Jeremy Gilmour finished first with a time of 8:35.59 and Phil Galebach was close behind with a time of 8:35.79. Dan Stiles and Michael Hoffman rounded out the quartet of top finishers. In the throwing events, Harvard took a pair of titles, starting in the hammer throw. Jack Brady took the title with a mark of 56.35 meters and Eric Clayman placed third with a throw of 52.52 meters. Aaron Palmer won the javelin, posting a mark of 59.02 meters and Andrew Bocskocsky took third with a throw of 52.49 meters.

Up next for Harvard are the Stanford Invitational and the Central Florida Invitational March 27.