CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – Harvard opened the 2025-26 track & field season on home turf, as the Crimson orchestrated wins in seven events at the fifth annual HBCU & Ivy Challenge.

A two-time All-Ivy League selection in the women's weight throw and the 2024 Ivy League champion in the event, junior Emilia Kolokotroni started the day with a fantastic showing at Gordon Indoor Track, winning the women's weight throw after posting a 19.10m (62'8").

Harvard found more success in the field events, as first-year Jillene Wetteland earned a win in her collegiate debut after clearing 1.69m (5'6.5") in the women's high jump, as sophomore Tyler Glover finished in first in the women's shot put after logging a throw of 15.42m (50'7.25").

The Ancient Eight's defending women's pole vault champion in indoor competition, sophomore Ella McRitchie started the year with a win in the women's pole vault after clearing 4.10m (13'5.25").

On the track, a pair of seniors started the season with stellar performances on the straightaway. The 2025 Ivy League champion in the women's 60 hurdles, senior Fabiola Belibi finished in first place in the women's 60 hurdles at the HBCU & Ivy Challenge after posting a time of 8.50 in the final. One of Harvard's team captains, senior Jonas Clarke kicked-off his final collegiate season with the Crimson with a win, finishing in first in the men's 60m after crossing the finish line in 6.85.

Harvard's men's 4x440y relay team of sophomore Harlow Tong, first-year Hudson McGough, sophomore Brayden Chavez and first-year Oliver Parker ended the day on a high note, winning the event after combining for a time of 3:18.44.

In the team standings, the women's squad took second with 82 points, while the men finished in fourth with 54 points.

HARVARD HIGHLIGHTS:

• Harvard started on the front foot in the throws cage, capturing the top two spots in the women's weight throw. A two-time All-Ivy League selection and 2024 Ivy League champion in the women's weight throw, Kolokotroni finished atop the podium with a throw of 19.10m (62'8"). Senior Michaela Denson finished in second to start her final track & field campaign with the Crimson, doing so with a throw of 18.19m (59'8.25").
• A Crimson debutant picked up a win in the women's high jump, as Wetteland took first after clearing 1.69m (5'6.5"). Junior Lilly Hodge also placed fourth in the event after leaping past 1.60m (5'3").
• The Crimson orchestrated a promising effort in the men's high jump, with two Harvard student-athletes finishing in the top five. First-year Joachim Johnson finished in third in his collegiate debut after clearing 2.04m (6'8.25"), a mark that is tied for 10^th all-time in school history. Senior and team captain Daire Mahon finished in fourth place after clearing a personal-best 1.98m (6'6").
• The track action started with a scoring effort in the men's 600m, as first-year Hudson McGough added to Harvard's total with a third place finish after crossing the finish line in 1:21.29.
• Back in the throws cage, another Crimson first-year scored in his Harvard debut, as first-year Daniel Ye finished in second in the men's weight throw with an attempt of 17.69m (58'.5").
• Harvard continued producing wins in the throws, as Glover started her second collegiate campaign with authority, winning the women's shot put with a mark of 15.42m (50'7.25"). Glover's throw from the HBCU & Ivy Challenge ranks third all-time in school history.
• The men's side of the shot put saw two Crimson compete, as junior Isaac Delaney finished in third with a throw of 16.45m (53'11.75").
• The straightaway finals started with a top five showing in the men's 60 hurdles, as junior Simon Weiser placed in fifth with a time of 8.16.
• Wins arrived for Crimson seniors in both the women's 60 hurdles and the men's 60m. The Ivy League's defending women's 60 hurdles champion, Belibi kicked off her final collegiate season with a win in the event, posting a time of 8.50 to capture first place. In the men's 60m, Clarke, one of Harvard's team captains, outlasted the field to take first place with a time of 6.85.
• The women's 60m final saw sophomore Ella Cooper clock a personal-best time of 7.59, taking fourth place in the process.
• McRitchie, another returning Ivy League champion, started the 2025-26 with a first place finish in the women's pole vault, doing so after clearing 4.10m (13'5.25"). Hodge finished in second, as she also cleared 4.10m.
• The Crimson's women's 4x440y relay team of sophomore Abigail Dennis, sophomore Saige Forbes, Cooper and sophomore Kaelin Creagh took second after clocking a 3:56.07.
• On the men's side of the 4x440y relay, Tong, McGough, Chavez and Parker combined for a time of 3:18.44 to earn the win.

UP NEXT:

The Crimson conclude the opening weekend of the 2025-26 track & field season with two meets tomorrow, as Harvard will host the Harvard Classic at Gordon Indoor Track and will also feature at the Sharon Colyear-Danville Season Opener at Boston University's Track & Tennis Center.

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