HAVERFORD, Pa. – Hosting the Seamus McElligott Invitational, the Haverford College men's indoor track & field team turned in a number of solid races throughout the morning and early afternoon inside the Alumni Field House on Saturday.
Highlighting Haverford's success on the track was a pair of top five times nationally as of press time in the 800 meters. In the fast section, three of the top five times in Division III so far this season were run inside the field house on Saturday. Widener's Leo Harman edged out the Haverford contingent to win the event in a time of 1:54.62. He clipped Charlie Marquardt by just eight-hundredths of a second at the finish line. Marquardt's time of 1:54.70 places him third nationally in the 800 meters as of press time.
Freshman Liam Lynch was right behind the first and second runners in a time of 1:55.51. His time ranks him fifth in the NCAA Division III indoor season as of press time. Overall, Haverford claimed half of the top 14 spots in the 800 meter field that featured 32 entrants. Henry Woods turned in a top five finish with a time of 1:57.63. Tyler Fong (eighth), Peter Kurtz (11th), Ryan Gooding (13th), and Chris Goings (14th) were also among the Fords' top finishers in the race.
The Fords also had a number of individuals etch their names among the top 50 times in the country this season during the 5,000 meter race. Dylan Verner-Crist was topped only by former teammate Joel Christian '15. Christian entered the event unattached. Verner-Crist was the runner-up with a time of 15:09.53. Nicholas Gandolfo-Lucia was third in the field with a mark of 15:10.38, while Jeffrey Duncan was also among the top five finishers (15:15.43). Haverford then showed off its depth with Sam Fujimori, Jimmy Gorman and Charlie Hale sweeping the next three slots outside of the top five.
Haverford recorded a runner-up finish in the mile with Julian Schneider crossing the line in a time of 4:28.21. Schneider was edged out by Rowan's Pat McCurry. Freshmen Greg Morgan (4:30.81) and Graham Peet (4:32.97) also recorded top 10 finishes with their respective fifth and ninth place showings.
In the sprints, Jeffrey Ainsley finished runner-up in the 60 meter hurdles (8.52) and fourth in the 200 meters (23.7). Ainsley was also Haverford's lone entrant in the long jump and placed fifth overall with a leap of 20 feet, 10 inches (6.35 meters). Joining Ainsley in the top 10 of the hurdles was Dorvil Gabriel (third) and Zach Oji (seventh). Jonathan Yellets, Haverford's lone entrant in the 400 meters, placed third overall.
The team's 4x200 relay team of Alex Frost, Gabriel, Oji, and Scott Pollara placed second in a time of 1:34.18. The 4x400 team – Lynch, Gabriel, Marquardt, and Pollara – was third with a time of 3:28.98.
In the field events, Robert Parry (12.03 meters), Josiah Legaspi (11.05 meters), George Avecillas (9.34 meters) and Michael Bueno (8.89 meters) claimed the eighth through 11th positions in the shot put, while Greg Van Aken was seventh overall as he cleared 3.50 meters (11'5.75") in the pole vault.
Men's indoor track & field will next travel to Staten Island, New York to take part in the Villanova Invitational. That meet is scheduled for next Saturday, February 6.