Harvard University’s track and field teams began their weekend with a series of notable performances at three different competitions: the Crimson Open, the David Hemery Valentine Invitational, and the Tiger Paw Invitational.
At the Tiger Paw Invitational in Clemson, South Carolina, senior Fabiola Belibi reached the semifinals in the women’s 60-meter hurdles. She finished 18th overall and matched her personal-best time of 8.29 seconds. Belibi is currently the Ivy League’s defending champion in this event.
During the Crimson Open, first-year Caitlyn Chang took 16th place in the women’s 3000 meters with a time of 10:49.45. In the women’s weight throw invite, junior and team captain Alice Mihas set a personal best with a throw of 18.27 meters (59’11.25″), earning second place and moving to ninth on Harvard’s all-time list for this event.
Junior Marta Amani secured second place in the women’s long jump invite with a season-best leap of 6.05 meters (19’10.25″). Sophomore Abigail Dennis finished fourth in the women’s 60 hurdles final with a personal-best time of 8.41 seconds, tying her for fifth all-time at Harvard.
In other results from the Crimson Open, junior Mickaila Haisley ran a personal-best time of 7.49 seconds to finish second in the women’s 60 meters—this performance ranks her tenth all-time at Harvard—while sophomore Saige Forbes was fourth with a personal best of 7.52 seconds.
Sophomore Tyler Glover placed second in the women’s shot put invite with a throw of 15.26 meters (50′.75″). Sophomore Kaelin Creagh finished fifth in the women’s 500 meters at 1:14.81.
Junior Lilly Hodge won first place in the women’s pole vault invite by clearing a personal-best height of 4.18 meters (13’8.5″), which is third all-time for Harvard’s program history.
Forbes also competed in triple jump, finishing fifth with an effort of 11.42 meters (37’5.75″). First-year Jillene Wetteland concluded day one by taking tenth place in high jump after clearing 1.63 meters (5’4.25″).
At Boston University’s Track & Tennis Center during day one of the David Hemery Valentine Invitational, senior Justin Levy started off for Harvard men by placing twenty-second in his event with a time of 48.48 seconds.
First-year Oliver Parker and sophomore Brayden Chavez finished twenty-second and twenty-third respectively in the men’s 400m open; Parker clocked at 49.19 while Chavez ran a close time of 49.21 seconds.
First-year Preston Ellis achieved a personal best to finish thirty-first overall in men’s open-800m at 1:52.41.
In men’s sprints, junior Timi Esan placed fourth overall in men’s open-200m running it at 21.35 seconds; junior Amari Turner took twelfth while senior Jonas Clarke came nineteenth.
The men’s team also saw two first-years compete among top finishers: Levi Harrison led their efforts by placing thirty-fifth in men’s 1000m; Arashi Hunter followed closely behind at thirty-seventh position.
A highlight came when first-year Arpad Kovacs joined sophomores Hudson Allain and Liam Acevedo along with Levy to win men’s 4x400m relay—their collective mark now stands as second fastest ever recorded by Harvard athletes for this relay event.
First-year Grant Schroder completed his run during mile invitational section crossing fifty-first overall clocking four minutes four point two seven seconds (4:04:27).
In men’s open-3000m race six members participated; junior Charlie Ortmans led them finishing thirteenth—his result now places him fourth on school records for that distance—and Sam Burgess ended up fifty-fourth outpacing several teammates who rounded out standings further down order including Owen Bosley (131st), Solomon Kwartowitz (150th), Ethan Aidamr (160th), and Brady Mullen who closed out group finishing one hundred sixty-third overall.
The teams will wrap up their weekend tomorrow as competition continues both at home during Crimson Open events as well as across town during ongoing David Hemery Valentine Invitational.
