LEXINGTON, Ky. – It was an afternoon to remember for Harvard track & field on the third day of the 2026 NCAA East First Round, as the Crimson 4x100m relay team, junior Tito Alofe and junior Charlie Ortmans all secured spots at the 2026 NCAA Outdoor Championships.

Running in the opening heat of the men's 4x100m quarterfinals, the Crimson's 4x100m relay team of junior Timi Esan, senior Jonas Clarke, sophomore LeRoy Horton and junior Amari Turner combined for a time of 38.90 to take one of three qualification spots based on time.
'
Harvard advances to the NCAA Outdoor Championships in the men's 4x100m relay for the first time in school history, as that time represents a new Ivy League record. Harvard is the first school in conference history to post a time below 39.00 in the men's 4x100m relay. This marks only the second time since 2000 that an Ivy League program has qualified for the NCAA Outdoor Championships in the men's 4x100m relay. 

For a third consecutive season, Alofe will represent Harvard track & field at the NCAA Outdoor Championships in the men's high jump, as the 2026 NCAA National Champion in the indoor men's high jump secures his spot at Hayward Field with a major performance on the third day of the 2026 NCAA East First Round.

A native of Peachtree City, Georgia, Alofe started the day strong in the men's high jump first round, clearing the first two heights of 2.06m (6'9") and 2.11m (6'11"). After hitting the bar on his first two attempts at 2.16m (7'1"), Alofe produced a clutch moment, soaring over the bar on his third and final attempt to clinch his spot at the 2026 NCAA Outdoor Championships.

Alofe was only one of 10 athletes in the field of 48 to clear 2.16m, as Alofe has now qualified for all six NCAA Championships across indoor and outdoor competition in his collegiate career. The 2026 Ivy League champion in the outdoor men's high jump, Alofe is looking to become just the 19^th student-athlete in NCAA history to win the national championship in both indoor and outdoor men's high jump in the same season.

After already qualifying for the men's 10,000m final on Wednesday, Ortmans was once again stellar in Lexington, earning a spot in the 5000m final at the 2026 NCAA Outdoor Championships by running a 13:41.79 in the opening heat, advancing based on time. Ortmans' staple kick made the difference, as the Arlington, Virginia native split a 1:01.71 across the last 400m to advance to the next round of the men's 5000m.

An All-Ivy League Second Team selection in the men's 5000m this season, Ortmans is only the fourth student-athlete in school history to qualify for both the men's 10,000m and the men's 5000m at the NCAA Outdoor Championships in the same season, joining two-time NCAA men's cross country national champion Graham Blanks '25, Acer Iverson '24 and Matthew Pereira '22.

Along with Ortmans, first-year Tam Gavenas also finished in the top 15 at the NCAA East First Round in the men's 5000m, crossing the finish line in 13:57.17 to take 15^th place. Junior Sam Burgess finished in 20^th place with a time of 14:02.38.

The men's triple saw first-year Joachim Johnson take 35^th place after reaching 14.99m (49'2.25") on his first jump of the day. A native of Lansdowne, Pennsylvania, Johnson ends his first season with the Crimson as the Ivy League champ in the outdoor men's triple jump.

HARVARD HIGHLIGHTS

• Esan, Clarke, Horton and Turner are the first men's 4x100m relay team in school history to qualify for the NCAA Outdoor Championships.
• The quartet achieved the feat by posting a 38.90, representing a new conference record and the first sub-39.00 in the event in Ivy League history.
• The 2026 NCAA national champion in the men's indoor high jump, Alofe will represent Harvard in the men's high jump at the NCAA Outdoor Championships for a third consecutive season.
• Ortmans is only the fourth student-athlete in school history to qualify for both the men's 5000m and the men's 10,000m in the same season.

UP NEXT

Harvard concludes its time at the 2026 NCAA East First Round tomorrow, as the final day of action in Lexington starts at 1 p.m. Harvard fans can stream all the action live on ESPN+.

For complete coverage of Harvard Track & Field, follow us on Twitter (@HarvardTFXC) and Instagram (@harvardtfxc).