CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – The William W. "Bill" McCurdy Director of Track and Field/Cross Country, Jason Saretsky, has announced the incoming Class of 2024. The newcomers include: Jaeschel Acheampong, Oliver Adler, Andrew Avila, Graham Blanks, Eros Bottino, Peter Diebold, Alex Fleury, Jonathan Gamarra, Ben Rosa and Lance Ward for the men. Chrystal Aluya, Ndip-Agbor Egbe, Chloe Fair, Eden Finkelstein, Isabelle Goldstein, Jada Johnson, Emma Langis, Ellie O'Hara, Maia Ramsden, Meaghan Toscano and Eleanor Wikstrom will join the women's team.

"I'm excited to welcome the incoming Class of 2024 to Harvard and our program," says Saretsky. "Thanks to the tireless work of our coaching staff, we have brought together a dedicated and talented group of student-athletes who are ready for the challenge of continuing our tradition of success both academically and athletically. I'm looking forward to working with and supporting this fantastic group of student-athletes throughout their four years with Harvard Track & Field/XC."

In the 2019-20 season, the cross country teams made history, both placing second at Ivy Heps, only to sweep the NCAA Northeast Regionals in Buffalo, N.Y., for the first time in school history. The track and field teams also placed second at Ivy Heps, collecting a combined eight heps titles. Abbe Goldstein (mile), Anna Juul (mile), and Kieran Tuntivate (mile, 3000m) qualified for the NCAA Championships. 

The incoming Crimson come from all over the globe, spanning across 11 states and four countries.

Men

Jaeschel Acheampong | T&F | Columbus, Ohio | Olentangy Orange
60m: 6.79
100m: 10.78
200m: 21.62
LJ: 7.44m (24'5")
TJ: 14.59m (47'10.75")

"Jaeschel has the ability to make an immediate impact in both our jumps and sprint groups." – Coach Mangiacotti

Oliver Adler | T&F, XC | Cherry Hill, N.J. | Cherry Hill High School East
3200m: 9:08.42

"Oliver is a late developer out of N.J. I think he has the ability to really help our distance unit as he adjusts to college." – Coach Gibby

Andrew Avila | T&F, XC | Wilmington, Del. | Charter School of Wilmington
1600m: 4:18.84
3200m: 9:06.67

"Andrew has the ability to come in and impact both our varsity seven in XC and help our distance group on the track." – Coach Gibby

Graham Blanks | T&F, XC | Athens, Ga. | Athens Academy
Mile: 4:15.69
3200m: 9:04.92 NXN Finalist (28th)

"Graham had a huge senior fall in XC as he won both Great American and NXN Southeast. That combined with his track PRs indicates he can be a player when he arrives on campus." – Coach Gibby

Eros Bottino | T&F | West Long Branch, N.J. | Christian Brother Academy
Discus: 55.6m (182'5")
Shot put: 18.22m (59'9.5")

"Eros extends the depth of the Harvard Men's Throwers as a true competitor." – Coach Wilson

Peter Diebold | T&F | Weston, Mass. | Weston
400m: 48.10
600m: 1:19.82
800m: 1:53.58

"Peter is a talented sprinter that will be able to contribute to our long sprints and relays from the 400-800m." – Coach Mangiacotti

Jonathan Gamarra | T&F | Oceanside, N.Y. | Oceanside
100m: 10.74
300m: 34.86
400m: 48.23

"Jonathan has shown a lot of potential in his brief time in track. He will be an impact athlete in both the long and short sprints." – Coach Mangiacotti

Alex Fleury | T&F, XC | North Andover, Mass. | Phillips Academy Andover
800m: 1:52.43
1000m: 2:27.16
Mile 4:05.57
3000m: 8:32.24

"Alex is one of the top prep milers in the country and the all-time Massachusetts record-holder in the indoor mile. We are excited to add him to our group and feel that he can make an instant impact." – Coach Gibby

Ben Rosa | T&F, XC | Lake Bluff, Il.  | Lake Forest
800m: 1:54.59
1600m: 4:12.86
3200m: 9:16.41

"Ben placed 3rd in the Illinois State Championships as a junior in the 1600m. Ben has tremendous middle-distance potential, he will contribute quickly in a variety of different events." – Coach Gibby

Lance Ward | T&F | Carl Junction, Mo. | Carl Junction
100m: 10.87
200m: 21.76
400m: 48.24

"Lance will add a tremendous amount of depth to the Crimson sprints squad in both the long and short sprints." – Coach Mangiacotti

Women

Chrystal Aluya | T&F | Placentia, Calif. | Valencia
100m: 12.07
200m: 24.70

"We saw a lot of undeveloped, raw talent in Chrystal. We're excited to help her develop and blossom into a potent sprinter." – Coach Tolbert

Egbe Ndip-Agbor | T&F | Corona, Calif. | Corona
100m: 11.84w
200m: 24.12
400m: 54.49

"Egbe has a very wide range of sprint abilities. She can be a scorer in several individual events and will be a key member of championship contending relays." – Coach Tolbert

Chloe Fair | T&F | Suwanee, Ga. | Greater Atlanta Christian School
400m - 55.75
400H - 61.23
LJ – 5.62 (18'5.5")

"Chloe has the talent and work ethic to be an immediate and consistent Ivy Champs scorer and will provide depth in the relays." – Coach Tolbert

Eden Finkelstein | T&F | Givataim, Israel | ORT Technikum Givataim
60m: 7.56
LJ: 6.32m (20'9")
HJ: 1.69m (5'6.5")
TJ: 12.14m (39'10w)
100m: 12.00

"Eden is an immediate threat to score at NCAAs and could anchor a very talented jumps group for the Crimson at Ivy Heps. She could also be a scorer in the sprints." – Coach Tolbert

Isabelle Goldstein | T&F, XC | Ambler, Pa. | Germantown Academy
Mile: 4:46.44
3000m: 9:45.09

"Issy is a strength-trained miler who we think can make a quick impact in both XC and track." – Coach Gibby

Jada Johnson | T&F | West Roxbury, Mass. | Sharon
Hept: 4807
Pent: 3735
HJ: 1.72m (5'8")
LJ: 5.88m (19'3.5")
100H: 14.34

"Jada was a two-time All-American in the multi-events as a prep. Her national level experience and ability could help her develop into an all-time Ivy great." – Coach Tolbert

Emma Langis | T&F | Ridgefield, Ct. | Ridgefield
400H: 61.39

"Emma was a national finalist in the hurdles in high school. We really liked her drive and work ethic. She'll bring depth to the hurdles and relays." – Coach Tolbert

Ellie O'Hara | T&F | Peebles, Scotland | Peebles
LJ: 6.07m (19'11")
TJ: 12.58m (41'3.25")
HJ: 1.65m (5'5")

"Ellie is a triple threat in the jumps for us and should be a constant presence at the NCAA prelims for us." – Coach Tolbert

Maia Ramsden | T&F, XC | Addis Ababa, Ethiopia | International Community School of Addis Ababa
800m: 2:10.82
1500m: 4:30.94

"Maia is a multi-time national champ for NZ. She can come right in and help our strong middle-distance group." – Coach Gibby

Meaghan Toscano | T&F | Lower Gwynedd, Pa. | Germantown Academy
Shot Put: 13.91m (45'8")
Discus: 42.64m (139' 11" - Jr mark)

"Meaghan brings intensity and extends the breadth of talent among the Harvard woman's throwers." – Coach Wilson

Eleanor Wikstrom | T&F, XC | Oakland, Calif. | Skyline
1600m: 5:00.33
3000m: 10:11.96

"Placing 10th at the California State XC Championships as a senior, we feel Eleanor is under-developed and has a real opportunity to help our program." – Coach Gibby