CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – Harvard track & field student-athletes shined on the national stage on the opening day of the 2024-25 indoor track & field season, as Crimson student-athletes set two Ivy League records and one school record.

Off the heels of his second NCAA Men's Cross Country National Championship in Madison, Wisconsin, senior Graham Blanks produced a superb effort in the men's 5000m at the Sharon Colyear-Danville Season Opener, breaking his own Ivy League record with a time of 12:59.89 to win the race against a stacked field. With the result, Blanks now ranks second in NCAA history in the indoor 5000m, becoming the first runner in conference history to break the 13-minute mark in the 5000m. Blanks also met the qualifying standard for the 2025 World Athletics Championships.

The World Standard ??

Graham Blanks surpasses the standard for the 2025 World Championships, becoming the first student-athlete in Ivy League history to go sub-13 in the 5000m with a time of 12:59.89!

His time ranks second in NCAA history ??#GoCrimson pic.twitter.com/wI34ozx8IA
— Harvard T&F | XC (@HarvardTFXC) December 8, 2024
 

After earning United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association All-America Second Team honors in the outdoor 800m last year, Victoria Bossong started her senior season on a high note, setting a new Ivy League record in the 600m with a time of 1:27.60. Bossong's result at the HBCU & Ivy Challenge also ranks 12^th all-time in NCAA history.

Sophomore Timi Esan kick-started his second season with the Crimson with a historic showing in the 60m at the HBCU & Ivy Challenge, setting a new program record in the event with a time of 6.70, taking first place in the process.

In the team standings at the HBCU & Ivy Challenge, the women's team won the meet with 117 points, surpassing Howard in second place. The Crimson men placed second, tallying 84 points across the day at Gordon Indoor Track.

HBCU & IVY CHALLENGE HARVARD HIGHLIGHTS:

• The fourth annual HBCU & Ivy Challenge began with the women's weight throw, as sophomore Emilia Kolokotroni was the Crimson's lone representative in the event. After reaching the finals with a throw of 17.52m (57'5.75"), Kolokotroni locked up first place after hitting 17.58m (57'8.25") on her fourth attempt of the day.
• Two Crimson made their collegiate debuts in the women's long jump, as first-years Saige Forbes and Corintia Griffith each finished in the top-five in their first NCAA events with Harvard. A native of Glen Mills, Pennsylvania, Forbes took third place with a jump of 5.57m (18'3.25"), while Griffith slotted in fourth place after reaching 5.52m (18'1.5").
• A qualifier for the NCAA East First Round in the outdoor pole vault, sophomore Lilly Hodge began her second season with the Crimson by winning the women's high jump, clearing the bar at 1.62m (5'3.75").
• Action on the track started with the women's 600m, as two Crimson All-Americans took the top two spots in the event. Bossong finished in first place, resetting her school record and setting a new Ivy League in the 600m with a time of 1:27.60. Bossong's time at the HBCU & Ivy Challenge also ranks 12^th all-time in NCAA history. Senior Chloe Fair finished right behind Bossong, crossing the finish line in 1:30.30.

Resetting the School Record ??

Victoria Bossong improves on her program record in the 600m, posting a time 1:27.60 at the HBCU & Ivy Challenge!#GoCrimson pic.twitter.com/mZ1VmNHRrj
— Harvard T&F | XC (@HarvardTFXC) December 7, 2024
 

• In his first race at the NCAA level, first-year JT Kraemer impressed, finishing in second in the men's 600m, posting a 1:21.31 in the process.
• Harvard went one, two, three in the women's pole vault, as an impressive group for the Crimson started the indoor season strong.
• Senior Anastasia Retsa and first-year Ella McRitchie both cleared 4.10m (13'5.25"), finishing in first and second, respectively. After winning the high jump, Hodge placed third in the pole vault after successfully vaulting past 3.85m (12'7.5").
• In the prelims of the men's 60m, Esan started the season on a high note, breaking the program record after finishing the sprint in 6.70, surpassing the former school record (6.71) set by his teammate Jonas Clarke in 2022.
• In the men's 60m hurdles final, sophomore Simon Weiser ran a strong race, finishing in fourth with a time of 8.20.
• Junior Fabiola Belibi carried the Crimson momentum into the women's 60m hurdles final, as the Englewood, Colorado native finished in second with a time of 8.40, a time that ranks third all-time in school history.
• A trio of student-athletes represented Harvard in the women's 60m final. Senior Izzy Goudros won the race with a personal-best time of 7.46, moving her to seventh all-time in the event in program history. Junior Mfoniso Andrew placed fourth with a time of 7.65, while Forbes ran to seventh (7.78).
• In the women's 300m, Goudros picked up another win, setting a new meet and personal record with a time of 37.55. Bossong placed second in the event, recording a time of 38.19, while Fair took third with a time of 38.49.
• Gouros' performance ranks second all-time in school history, just behind Gabby Thomas' '19 time of 37.47 from 2017.
• A slew of first-years authored excellent performances in the men's 300m. Harlow Tong ran a stellar race, taking second with a meet record of 33.83. Hudson Allain finished right behind Tong with a time of 33.87, as Liam Acevedo placed seventh with a time of 34.61.
• The men's triple jump saw USTFCCCA All-America Second Team selection Daniel Falode win the event at the HBCU & Ivy Challenge with a jump of 15.86m (52'0.5").
• Two Crimson found success in the circle in the women's shot put. First-Year Tyler Glover placed second with a throw of 14.05m (46'1.25"), while USTFCCCA All-America First Team honoree in the discus Milina Wepiwé finished in fourth after hitting 13.37m (43'10.5").
• On the men's side of the shot put, sophomore Isaac Delaney won the event with a personal-best throw of 16.78m (55'.75"), as senior Eros Bottino slotted in fifth after recording an attempt of 14.76m (48'5.25").
• A two-time USTFCCCA All-American, sophomore Tito Alofe returned to collegiate competition on a high note, winning the men's high jump after clearing 2.15m (7'0.5").
• The day concluded with the 4x440 relays. In a tightly contested first heat of the women's 4x440y relay, the Crimson squad of Bossong, first-year Ella Cooper, Forbes, and sophomore Marta Amani finished in second place, combining for a time of 3:48.52.
• Harvard ended the HBCU & Ivy Challenge with a second place showing in the men's 4x440y relay, as Kraemer, Allain, Chavez and junior Reuben Henry-Daire combined for a time of 3:16.56.

An Amazing Tradition ??

Thank you to Delaware State, Howard and Dartmouth for another stellar iteration of the HBCU & Ivy Challenge!#GoCrimson pic.twitter.com/DFCMMwrPbW
— Harvard T&F | XC (@HarvardTFXC) December 7, 2024
 

SHARON COLYEAR-DANVILLE SEASON OPENER HARVARD HIGHLIGHTS:

• Across town at the BU Track & Tennis Center, two-time USTFCCCA All-American Sophia Gorriaran started her second collegiate campaign with a second place showing in the 800m, crossing the finish line in 2:02.74.
• In his first track & field race since the 2024 Paris Olympics, Blanks wowed the crowd at the BU Track & Tennis Center, meeting the World Athletics Championship standard with a time of 12:59.89. A native of Athens, Georgia, Blanks is the second student-athlete in NCAA history to go sub-13 in the 5000m.
• Junior Shane Brosnan featured in the second heat of the 5000m, placing 15^th in his section with a time of 13:45.94.  

UP NEXT:

Harvard returns to competition on Saturday, Jan. 11 after the winter recess, heading to the TRACK at new balance for the Suffolk Relays.

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