NEW YORK – The Haverford College men's indoor track & field team opened up the 2019 portion of the season on Saturday evening at the Armory Track in New York City, competing at the TCNJ Invitational against teams from all three NCAA Divisions. The night was highlighted by the 3,000 meters competition, where a trio of Fords took an early crack at posting a qualifying mark for the NCAA Championships in March. Haverford finished fifth overall at the meet, with 36 total points. The Fords were the second Division III finisher after Stockton, which finished fourth.
Senior Greg Morgan, appearing in his first competitive race since the cross country national championships, won the 3,000 meters in a blazing-fast 8:14.56. The run was the fourth-best individual time in Haverford program history as well as the fastest time in NCAA Division III so far this season. The performance was the fastest in the 3,000 meters since Charlie Marquardt '16 raced to a conference-record 8:06.56 in 2016 at the Villanova Invitational on Staten Island. Senior Graham Peet also set a new personal best in the distance, crossing in third overall with a time of 8:39.53, within the top 20 times across the nation so far this season. Senior Ryan Herlihy finished fourth in a personal record time of 8:45.51.
In the mile run, first year Jamie Moreland impressed in his collegiate indoor debut with a fifth-place finish in 4:20.29, a time that is within the top 15 marks so far this season. Senior Ian Woodhouse crossed in ninth with a personal-best time of 4:30.78, while senior Chris Goings finished 16th in 4:33.32. Junior Hiroshi Kawakatsu finished 11th in the 800 meters, crossing in a personal-best 2:01.61.
First year Ethan Gadra continued his impressive debut by posting a fourth place finish and a mark of 4.15 meters in the pole vault. The mark was the third-best individual performance in program history. Gadra eclipsed his 3.95 meters debut performance at last month's Haverford Holiday Invitational. Senior Greg Van Aken finished eighth with a mark of 3.85 meters.
In the long jump, sophomore Silvan Sooksatan finished 14th with a jump of 5.68 meters. Senior Rohan Shukla was 16th with a jump of 5.64 meters, a new indoor best. Senior Chris Glazer was 20th with a mark of 5.37 meters, making his indoor debut in the discipline. Senior Jack Brower finished seventh in the high jump with a mark of 1.85 meters while Shukla also competed in the triple jump, posting a new indoor best mark of 11.76 meters, good for 11th place.
The Fords will return to action on Saturday, January 19 at the Ursinus Invitational in Collegeville. Haverford will then wrap up the month hosting the McElligott Invitational on January 26 inside the Alumni Field House.