AUSTIN, Texas – Five men's team athletes got the NCAA Championship Meet started for Harvard track and field on Wednesday, highlighted by
Kenneth Ikeji's championship win in the hammer throw. Along with Ikeji,
Graham Blanks earned First Team All-American status while
Alexander Kolesnikoff and
Aaron Shirley finished Second Team All-America.
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Ikeji became Harvard's third ever NCAA champion in the hammer throw and first since 1962 as he threw 77.92 meters (255' 8") to win the first event at the 2023 NCAA Championship meet. His new personal best set a new collegiate lead, facility record, Harvard record and Ivy League record. His throw also moves him up to sixth in collegiate history.
Harvard Championship Results
• Ikeji was a contender for the NCAA title from his very first throw, where he jumped into first with a throw just beyond 72 meters. He only improved from there, sitting in second after five throws with his best throw of 75.97m just a few feet off first. With his final throw of the day, he improved by over two meters and finished as an NCAA champion by a margin of 1.6 meters (over five feet).
• Kolesnikoff, the fourth to ever represent the Crimson in the shot put at nationals, moved up in the standings throughout the competition with his first three throws. He made it into the final with a 19.88m (65' 2.75") throw that he then matched with his fifth throw, finishing in ninth to earn Second Team All-America honors.
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Aaron Shirley made his NCAA Championship debut with a 16th place finish on the national stage in the 400m hurdles. He ran a strategic race from the innermost lane, crossing the line with a time of 50.69. His time finished 16th on the day and will not advance to the final but earned him Second Team All-America honors. Â
• Blanks and
Acer Iverson represented the Crimson in the 10,000m run to end the first day of competition. In a similar fashion to the NCAA Cross Country Championship meet, Blanks hung with the leaders the entire race, finishing in sixth after a sprint over the final 400 meters of the race with a time of 28:15.90, a new personal best that is second all-time at Harvard. Iverson finished 23rd in 30:35.64 to end his 2023 season after competing at the cross country, indoor and outdoor track and field championships.Â
Up Next
The first day of women's competition will take place tomorrow, with
Stephanie Ratcliffe in the hammer throw,
Sarah Omoregie in the shot put and
Maia Ramsden in the 1500m semifinals. The meet will start at 4:30 p.m. EST. Running will air on ESPN2 while field events will air on ESPN+.Â
