CORAL GABLES, Fla. – Harvard track & field enjoyed a stellar day in the Sunshine State on Saturday, as the Crimson orchestrated outstanding performances at the Hurricane Invitational.

Junior Anastasia Retsa improved on her school record in the women's pole vault, as the Athens, Greece native cleared the bar at 4.20m (13'9.25") to set the new Harvard record in the event.

HARVARD HIGHLIGHTS:

• Action on the track started with the women's 100 hurdles, as sophomore Fabiola Belibi impressed with a seventh place finish in a time of 14.26. Teammate and senior Jada Johnson took 11^th after posting a 14.79 time in the event.
• A 2024 NCAA Indoor Track & Field Championships qualifier in the women's 800m, first-year Sophia Gorriaran ran to a fifth place finish in the women's 400m, as her time of 54.94 ranks sixth on the program performance list.
• In the men's 400m, senior Gregory Lapit ran a 47.41, good enough for fourth place. Joining Lapit in the top-10 was sophomore Reuben Henry-Daire, as the Reading, U.K. native logged a new personal-best time of 48.66 on his way to a ninth place finish.
• Junior Victoria Bossong stood atop the podium in the women's 800m, taking first place after running a 2:02.40. That's a new personal best for Bossong and the second fastest 800m time in program history.
• Over on the men's side of the 800m, senior Peter Diebold picked up a first place finish, logging a time of 1:51.31. Sophomore Justin Levy also placed in the top-five, taking third with a 1:53.24 result.
• Running in the first heat, junior Chloe Fair logged a fourth place finish in the women's 400m hurdles with a time of 59.64.
• The Crimson took the top three spots in the men's 400m hurdles. An All-American in 2023, senior Aaron Shirley took first with a 51.24 result, while sophomore Ondrej Vesely secured a second place finish (51.78). First-Year Simon Weiser rounded out the top-three with a time of 52.80.
• In a competitive men's 200m field, senior Lance Ward posted a time of 21.44, taking eighth place in the process.
• The women's 4x400m relay team of sophomore Mfoniso Andrew, Gorriaran, Fair, and Bossong dazzled, besting both of Georgia's squads to finish in first place. The Crimson quartet combined for a time of 3:32.28, the third fastest result in program history.
• Harvard wrapped up action on the track with the men's 4x400m relay, as a team of Deibold, Henry-Daire, junior Steffan Jones, and Lapit slotted in second place after finishing the race in 3:14.55. Finishing right behind them was the Crimson's second 4x400m squad of Weiser, Shirley, sophomore Michal Husek, and junior Peter Fischer placed in third with a time of 3:15.52.
• Over on the field events, a pair of first-years impressed with first place performance.
• In her outdoor debut, first-year Emilia Kolokotroni was stellar in the women's hammer throw, seizing first place with a throw of 61.59m (202'0") on her third attempt. Kolokotroni's throw at the Hurricane Invitational ranks third all-time in school history.
• A second team All-America selection in the indoor men's high jump, first-year Tito Alofe cleared the bar at 2.14m (7'0.25") on his way to first place honors.
• On the runway, senior Jaeschel Acheampong placed fourth in the men's long jump, as his fourth jump of 6.87m (22'6.5") pushed him to a top-five finish.
• First-Year Isaac Delaney continues to show steady improvement in the men's shot put, as the Preston, England native posted his second-straight top-five finish, taking fourth with a career-best throw of 16.15m (53'0").
• Behind a record-breaking performance, Retsa finished in a tie for second in the women's pole vault after clearing 4.20m (13'9.25") on her second attempt.
• Along with Retsa, first-year Lilly Hodge finished in fourth after successfully vaulting over 3.95m (12'11.5").
• First-Year Milina Wepiwé ended the day on a high note, earning first place in the women's discus with a throw of 52.42m (172"0').

UP NEXT:

The Crimson will split up between three meets next weekend, as two groups will stay south for the Florida Relays and the Raleigh Relays between Thursday, Mar. 28 – Saturday, Mar. 30. A group of student-athletes return to Massachusetts on Saturday, Mar. 30 for the Riverhawk Invite in Lowell, Mass.

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