LEXINGTON, Ky. – Harvard track & field began its journey at the 2024 NCAA East Region First Round with four events on the opening day of the meet.

For a second straight season, junior Kenneth Ikeji will represent the Crimson in the men's hammer throw at the NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships. A native of London, U.K. and the defending NCAA Men's Hammer Throw and Weight Throw National Champion, Ikeji vaulted into the top-12 at the NCAA East Region First Round with a toss of 68.55m (224'11") on his final attempt.

Heading to Eugene ??

Kenneth Ikeji punches his ticket to the 2024 NCAA Outdoor Championships in the men's hammer throw! ??#GoCrimson pic.twitter.com/4rKpoV3RyP
— Harvard T&F | XC (@HarvardTFXC) May 22, 2024
 

HARVARD HIGHLIGHTS:

• The first day of the 2024 NCAA East Region First Round began on the throwing fields, as Ikeji took the penultimate step in defending his 2023 NCAA Men's Hammer Throw National Championship.
• On his third throw of the day, Ikeji clinched a spot in the 2024 NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships with a throw of 68.55m (224'11"), placing him in the top-12 at the 2024 NCAA East Region First Round.
• The Crimson moved over to the track in the afternoon portion of opening day, as junior Joe Ewing and first-year Ferenc Kovacs competed in the first round of the men's 1,500m.
• Kovacs advanced to Friday's men's 1,500m quarterfinals, as a strong finish in the last 400m of the race pushed him to third place in his heat.
• In the first heat, Ewing crossed the finish line in 3:45.36, taking 29^th place overall.
• A trio of Crimson took center stage in the first round of the men's 400 hurdles. In his first appearance at the NCAA East Region First Round, sophomore Ondrej Vesely took 37^th place with a time of 52.41, while junior Peter Fischer slotted in 42^nd place with a time of 53.48. Senior Aaron Shirley did not finish the race.
• The evening ended with the men's 10,000m semifinals, as four Harvard distance runners participated in the race. Senior Acer Iverson posted the best time of the Crimson quartet, finishing in 18^th after crossing the finish line in 29:39.33.
• Junior Ben Rosa took 23^rd place, while sophomore Shane Brosnan and first-year Charlie Ortmans finished in 31^st and 37^th place, respectively.

Moving On ?? 

First-Year Ferenc Kovacs clinches a spot in Friday's men's 1500m quarterfinals, earning a top-five finish in his prelim heat! #GoCrimson pic.twitter.com/oIRmdUgdgu
— Harvard T&F | XC (@HarvardTFXC) May 22, 2024
 

UP NEXT:

Female Crimson student-athletes will appear in five events tomorrow at the 2024 NCAA East Region First Round, starting with the women's pole vault at noon. Harvard fans can catch all the action from Lexington on ESPN+.

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