PRINCETON, N.J. – Harvard track & field started its time at the 2024 Ivy League Heptagonal Outdoor Track & Field Championships with impressive performances, as three student-athletes earned individual Ivy League championships.
The Crimson opened its day with dominant showings at the throwing fields, sweeping the hammer throws. Junior
Kenneth Ikeji won the men's hammer throw, standing atop the podium with his 73.33m (240'7") attempt. On the women's side, first-year
Emilia Kolokotroni took home her second Ivy League title, placing first with a throw of 62.45m (204'10"), a new personal-best.
In the women's discus throw, first-year
Milina Wepiwé won the first Ivy League title of her career, as her second throw (52.61/172'7") catapulted her to the top of the leaderboards.
After the first day of competition in Princeton, N.J., the women sit in second place with 44 points, while the men are tied for sixth with 13, as only five events have been scored.
HARVARD HIGHLIGHTS:
- The day started on a high note at the throwing fields, as Ikeji captured the fifth Ivy League title in his career, taking first-place in the men's hammer throw. The reigning NCAA Men's Hammer Throw and Weight Throw national champion, Ikeji scored Harvard's first points with his final throw of 73.33m (240'7").
- Kolokotroni capped off her inaugural season in the Ivy League with her second individual title, winning the women's hammer throw with a new personal-best attempt (62.45m/204'10").
- A native of Nicosia, Cyprus, Kolokotroni's winning throw ranks second in program history.
- Over on the track, junior Noah Ward advanced to tomorrow's final in the men's 1500m, as the Daniel Island, S.C. native posted season-best 3:47.82 in the prelims.
- Another Crimson runner punched their ticket to tomorrow's final in the men's 400m, as senior Gregory Lapit finished second in the first heat. A native of Corona, Calif., Lapit is the defending Ivy League indoor men's 400m champion.
- Three Harvard student-athletes will run in the men's 100m dash final, posting impressive times in the prelims. First-Year Timi Esan ran the fastest time of the trio, crossing the finish line in 10.41. Sophomore Jonas Clarke set a new personal-best, finishing the sprint in 10.42, while senior and team captain Lance Ward ran his fastest time this season in the prelims (10.44).
- A third place finisher in the men's 800m at the 2023 Ivy League Heptagonal Outdoor Track & Field Championships, senior Peter Diebold secured a spot in the men's 800m finals, placing sixth in the prelims with a time of 1:50.23, his quickest time this season.
- Senior Jada Johnson, the defending Ivy League Women's Heptathlon Champion, is in third place in the women's heptathlon with 3,035 points. Johnson placed second in the 200m dash, and recorded third place finishes in the 100m hurdles and the shot put. Johnson will finish off the combined event with the long jump, javelin throw, and 800m tomorrow.
- In the men's 400m hurdles, three Crimson earned the opportunity to race tomorrow, posting strong times in the prelims. A 2023 NCAA Outdoor Championships qualifier, senior Aaron Shirley recorded the best time in the preliminary round, crossing the finish line in 50.36 for a new season best. Finishing in third was junior Peter Fischer, as the Harrison, N.Y. native ran his fastest time in 2024 (52.32). Sophomore Ondrej Vesely took fifth in the prelims, posting a 52.46.
- After impressing in the men's 100m dash prelims, Ward, Esan, and Clarke did it again in the 200m dash qualifiers, as all three Crimson sprinters will run in the 200m finals tomorrow. A team captain, Ward finished in fourth, logging his fastest time this campaign (20.92). Esan (21.13) and Clarke (21.26) both recorded new personal records in their Harvard careers.
- Esan is now tied for seventh all-time in the outdoor men's 200m in school history.
- First-Year Lilly Hodge added to the Crimson tally in the women's pole vault, taking second after clearing the bar at 4.07m (13'4.25"), matching her personal-best. A native of Keene, Ky., Hodge is second all-time in program history in the women's pole vault.
- The defending NCAA Women's 1,500m National Champion, senior Maia Ramsden ran the fastest qualifying time in the women's 1,500m in Princeton, finishing the race in 4:19.50. Ramsden will defend her Ivy League title in the event during tomorrow's final.
- Along with Ramsden, junior Marianne Mihas earned a spot in the women's 1,500m final, taking fifth in the first heat of the prelims.
- In the women's long jump, junior Izzy Goudros scored four points for Harvard, finishing in fourth with a jump of 6.06m (19'10.75").
- Goudros also advanced to the women's 100m hurdles finals, posting a 13:57 in the prelims, her best time this season.
- Senior Egbe Ndip-Agbor and junior Victoria Bossong sprinted to great times in the women's 400m, as the duo will represent Harvard in the final after taking fifth and sixth in the prelims, respectively.
- Harvard gained 16 points during the women's discus throw, as Wepiwé won the first Ivy League individual title with a throw of 52.61m (172'7"). Sophomore Michaela Denson also earned a spot on the podium, taking third with her longest throw of the season (48.59m/159'5").
- The Crimson enjoyed more success in the sprints, as three student-athletes qualified for tomorrow's women's 100m dash finals. Sophomore Mfoniso Andrew took third in the prelims, posting a time of 11.85. First-Year Mickaila Haisley posted a 11.88 to record a fourth place finish, while senior Chrystal Aluya ran her best time this season to clinch a spot in the finals (11.95).
- A qualifier in the women's 800m at the 2024 NCAA Indoor Track & Field Championships, first-year Sophia Gorriaran will race in tomorrow's women's 800m finals after placing fifth in the qualifiers.
- Junior Chloe Fair dazzled in the women's 400m prelims, running the fastest qualifying time (58.50).
- Bossong, Ndip-Agbor, and Goudros will run the women's 200m finals on Sunday afternoon. Bossong (24.04) and Ndip-Agbor (24.13) each set new personal-bests.
- The opening day of Outdoor Heps ended with the 10,000m races. On the men's side, senior Acer Iverson and first-year Shane Brosnan contributed to the team score, as Iverson finished in fifth and Brosnan placed in sixth.
- Junior Ella Gilson tallied four points for Harvard, taking fourth in the women's 10,000m with a personal-best time of 32:59.09. Sophomore Zoe Cooper placed right behind her teammate Gilson, taking fifth place.
UP NEXT:
The Crimson look to secure both team titles tomorrow at the final day of the 2024 Ivy League Heptagonal Outdoor Track & Field Championships. Harvard fans can catch all the action live on ESPN+.
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