CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – The Harvard cross country and track & field program hosted its annual Awards Banquet on Saturday, Jan. 6. The Crimson gathered at the Harvard Club of Boston to celebrate a historic and incredible 2023, one that saw multiple student-athletes win NCAA National Championships and the men and women sweep the Ivy League Outdoor Heps for the first time in program history.
 
The William W. "Bill" McCurdy Director of Track & Field/Cross Country Jason Saretsky also announced the Harvard cross country team captains for the 2024 season. Annelies Quinton and Marianne Mihas will lead the women's squad, while Graham Blanks and Joe Ewing will captain the men's team.
 
The Harvard track & field and cross country coaches presented 42 team awards on Saturday, recognizing the outstanding contributions and performances by the Harvard student-athletes.
 
2023 Cross Country:
 
The Jerry Kanter Improvement Award is awarded annually to the individual selected by the coaches as having shown the most improvement, not only during the season, but over one or more seasons, if applicable. The award was established in 1981 by Jerry Kanter, the former Chairman of the Friends of Harvard Track/Cross Country.
 
Winner: Ella Gilson
 
The Kate Wiley Outstanding Performer Award is awarded annually to the individual selected by the coaches as having been the most outstanding for that particular season.
 
Winner: Maia Ramsden
 
The Jaako Mikkola Award was established by Paul R. Judy '53 in honor of Jakko Mikkola, Harvard cross country and track & field coach from 1921 to 1952. Awarded to that member of the Harvard cross country team who has, through continued and conscientious effort for team success, shown noteworthy improvement in physical performance.
 
Winner: Ben Rosa
 
The JD French '56 Cross Country Award is given in the name of J.D. "Don" French '56. French was active in university affairs, captain of the 1955 Harvard cross country team, was an inspirational leader and competitor possessed of unusual enthusiasm. French believed strongly in the value of cross country and athletics at Harvard. He was unfortunately met with an untimely passing in a plane accident in 1961. The award was established by friends and teammates, and later endowed by his father and mother. The J.D. French '56 Cross Country award is presented to the member of the Harvard cross country team who best combines the qualities of team inspiration, enthusiasm, improvement, and ardent belief in the values of sport and athletics at Harvard.
 
Winner: Graham Blanks
 
2022-23 Indoor and Outdoor Track and Field:
 
The Pappy Hunt Improvement Award is presented annually to the women student-athlete who, through hard work and dedication to the team, has showcased the most improvement during the year. Named after the first Harvard women's track & field coach, The Pappy Hunt Improvement Award embodies coach Hunt's philosophy and coaching style.
 
Winner: Ella Gilson
 
The Hennessy Mile Relay Award was created by Vincent L. Hennessy '62 in honor of his father Vincent Lawrence Hennessy, AB 1930, LLB 1933, an outstanding competitor and anchor of the Harvard mile relay team, which set a world indoor mile relay record in 1930. That time stood as the Harvard record for 27 years. The Hennessy Mile Relay Award honors the Harvard varsity mile relay team which through performance and attitude inspires the qualities of dedication, determination, competitive spirit, teamwork and high-performance characteristic of Vincent Hennessy.
 
Winners (Men): Gregory Lapit, Aaron Shirley, Max Serrano-Wu, Lance Ward
 
Winners (Women): Victoria Bossong, Izzy Goudros, Mfoniso Andrew, Chloe Fair
 
The Women's Beyond the Call of Duty Award is bestowed to the student-athlete(s) who go above and beyond in their commitment to Harvard track & field. They are tremendous ambassadors for the program and embody the core values of the program.
 
Winners: Chloe Fair and Estel Valeanu
 
The Bingham Relay Award recognizes each member the relay team considered by the coaching staff to be the most outstanding during the entirety of the track & field season. Named after Norman Williams Bingham, Jr. '95, Binghman was a member of Harvard's first team to win the mile relay against Yale. Over his 60 years as a member of the Boston Bar, Bingham maintained an interest in Harvard and its athletic programs. The members of his own relay team were his lifelong friends.
 
Winners: Jaeschel Acheampong, Jonas Clarke, Collin Fullen, Cam Henry, Lance Ward
 
This is the first time in program history that five student-athletes have won The Bingham Relay Award. At the Houston Invite on Mar. 16, 2023, Fullen, Ward, Acheampong, and Clarke set a new program record in the 4x100m relay with a time of 40.19. One month later at the LSU Alumni Gold meet, a relay team of Henry, Ward, Acheampong, and Clarke tied the record with a time of 40.19. 
 
The McLaughlin Award honors a first-year student-athlete who embodies the characteristics of James McLaughlin '52. McLaughlin was an outstanding athlete and citizen at the Cranbrook School, equally distinguished in his performance in track at Harvard, passed away in his first year on campus. His teammates, knowing how strongly the qualities of fellowship and sportsmanship were embodied in him, feel that the best way to ensure the growth of these qualities in future athletes is to present an annual award to that first-year of the track team, who, like James McLaughlin, distinguishes him or herself in exemplifying them.
 
Winner: Daire Mahon
 
The Leslie Cooper Golemme '86 Women's Most Outstanding Performer Award is presented to the most outstanding student-athlete and is usually awarded on the basis of the Indoor and Outdoor seasons combined.
 
Winner: Stephanie Ratcliffe
 
The Rita Raju Memorial Award is presented in the memory of former student-athlete Rita Raju '92. Raju was the first recipient of the Coaches Award for Women, an award given to the senior track team member who during their career at Harvard demonstrated expectational dedication to track, one whose dedication to practice was uncompromised. Upon her passing in 1995, Raju's teammates felt it appropriate to establish the Coaches Award in her name to honor her memory and spotlight a senior who most closely emulates Rita's personal discipline, dedication to Harvard Track, excellence of scholarly pursuits, integrity, and community involvement.
 
Winner: Eloise Freitag
 
The Gary Geissler Women's Unsung Hero Award recognizes a Harvard track & field student-athlete who through years of perseverance, loyalty, and conscientious effort often unnoticed or unrewarded has made a vital contribution to their teammates, team and the Harvard community.
 
Winner: Maya Rayle
 
The Jannergren "Overcoming Physical Adversity" Award honors a senior who overcame great physical adversity over the course of their college career and became a consistent team contributor. The award is named after former team trainer Henry Jannergren.
 
Winner: Sam Bennett and Alana Carroll
 
The Francis J. Haggerty Award For Excellence in Women's Track and Field honors with great appreciation Coach Frank Haggerty and his many years of dedication to Harvard. Endowed on the occasion of the 30^th anniversary of the women's track & field program at Harvard, this award honors the woman on the Harvard track team who seized opportunities and excelled, thereby greatly contributing to the success of the Harvard women's track & field team.
 
Winners: Stephanie Ratcliffe and Maia Ramsden
 
The Nelson Unsung Hero Award is presented in the memory of William H. (Bill) Nelson, a shot-putter, naval officer, attorney, and a founding father of the Friends of Harvard Track. The award recognizes a senior member of the Harvard track team who through years of perseverance, loyalty, and conscientious effort often unnoticed or unrewarded has made a vital contribution to his teammates, his team and the Harvard community and in so doing best exemplifies the qualities of Bill Nelson.
 
Winner: Kyle Murphy
 
The Little Shot Put Award is given in the name of Clarence C. "Pete" Little '10. Little was a Intercollegiate Champion in 1909, captain of the 1910 Harvard track & field team, a leader, performer, sports, and a dedicated and diligent worker. Awarded annually to the Harvad shot putter who has greatly contributed to the success of the program through hard work, ability to overcome obstacles, individual improvement, excellence of competitive performance, leadership by example, and a strong team loyalty.
 
Winners: Sarah Omoregie and Alexander Kolesnikoff
 
 
The Helmus Improvement Awards recognizes three members of the Harvard track & field squad who with loyal team effort, hard work and conscientious practice have shown marked improvement, contributing to team success.
 
Winners: John Minicus, Ben Rosa, Jeremiah Swett
 
The Carver Hammer and Weight Award showcases the member of the Harvard track & field team, who, through conduct, perseverance, and performance in the hammer or weight throw, has contributed notably to Harvard track & field and the Harvard community. The award is given in the name of Eugene P. Carver Jr. '13, a sportsman and a dedicated track & field official for 57 years.
 
Winners: Kenneth Ikeji and Stephanie Ratcliffe
 
The Gourdin Broad Jump Award is bestowed to the long jumper whose conscientious efforts, competitive performance and overall character contribute notably to Harvard track & field and the Harvard community. Created by C. George Krogness Jr. '21, the award honors his classmate and teammate, Ned Gourdin. Gourdin was the first man in the world to broad jump over 25'. He set a world record of 25'3" in the 1921 HYOC meet. In 1924, Gourdin won the silver medal at the Olympic Games. As indicated on the permanent plaque in Dillon Field House, Ned Gourdin was an athlete, scholar, soldier, and jurist.
 
Winners: Izzy Goudros and Jaeschel Acheampong
 
The Ohiri Triple Jump Award showcases the triple jumper who best exemplifies Chris Ohiri '62, an Olympian for Nigeria in 1960 and 1964, in the characteristics of enthusiasm, team loyalty, and excellence of performance.
 
Winner: Daniel Falode
 
The Robert W. Harwood Pole Vault Award is given in honor of Robert Walker Hardwood '20. Harwood was the holder of the 1914 interscholastic record, member of the Harvard track & field team from 1918-1921, and member of the 1920 United States Olympic Team. This award is presented to the Harvard pole vaulter who through loyalty, effort, performance and conduct has made a significant contribution to Harvard and Harvard track & field.
 
Winners: Anastasia Retsa and Simon Park
 
The Rand Hurdle Award is presented to the Harvard hurdler who has contributed significantly by their outstanding character, excellence of performance, leadership, team spirit or individual improvement to the best in Harvard athletics and to his or her team's success.
 
Winners: Josefina Biernacki and Aaron Shirley
 
The Schick Sprint Award given in the name of William A. Schick '05. He was the only man to win the Harvard-Yale 100 and 200 yard sprints all four years at Harvard (1902-1905). In 1902 he set the world record for the 70 yard dash. In 1904 and 1905, Schick was the IC4A 100 and 200 yard spring champion. He captained the 1905 Harvard track & field team. The Schick Sprint Award recognizes the Harvard sprinter who, like Bill Schick – through consistent hard work, courage, ability, sportsmanship, and devotion to team welfare, provides an outstanding example and inspiration to teammates both in practice and competition.
 
Winners: Chloe Fair and Lance Ward
 
The Ed Stowell Award honors the legacy of former field events coach, Ed Stowell. Stowell coached at Harvard for 28 years. Exceptional were his enthusiasm, unbridled optimism, continued hard work, loyalty to the student-athletes, team and school and, most importantly aggressive eagerness to compete for team success regardless of the conditions. This award goes to that Harvard field events athlete who most closely exemplifies those qualities.
 
Winners: Estel Valeanu and Alexander Kolesnikoff
 
The Watters Mile Award is given in honor of John Nickerson Watters '26, who was an inspirational team performer and superb competitor. The donor, Ellsworth "Red" Haggerty '27 was an outstanding 880 and mile runner who captained the 1927 Harvard track & field team. The Watters Mile Award is given annually to the student-athlete who has competed for Harvard in the mile run with distinction and with dedication to the team's success.
 
Winners: Penelope Salmon and Joe Ewing
 
The Westmore Wilcox 440 Award is given in the name of Westmore Wilcox Jr. '17. Wilcox first broke the 440 yard record on May 8, 1915 with a time of 48.6. A week later on May, 15, he broke the record again with a time of 48.0. The Westmore Wilcox 440 Award is presented to the Harvard runner who is the most outstanding in the 440 yard run/400m run during the season.
 
Winners: Gregory Lapit and Victoria Bossong
 
The McCurdy Beyond the Call of Duty Award is presented annually to the most outstanding men's performer on the Harvard track & field program.
 
Winner: Graham Blanks
 
The Women's Most Valuable Performer Award is presented annually to the most outstanding women's performer on the Harvard track & field program.
 
Winner: Maia Ramsden

For complete coverage of Harvard Track & Field and Cross Country, follow us on Twitter (@HarvardTFXC) and Instagram (@harvardtfxc).