BOSTON, Mass. - The Haverford College Men's Indoor Track & Field team showcased three talented runners at the prestigious David Hemery Valentine Invitational on Saturday. Juniors Peter LaRochelle, Reza Eshghi and senior Matthew Denton all ran to blazing fast times inside the Track and Tennis Center on the campus of Boston University.
LaRochelle was the first of the Haverford competitors, hitting the track at 9 a.m. The junior excelled in the 5000-meter run, navigating a crowded field of 77 total runners, including 27 in his heat. LaRochelle achieved an outstanding time of 14:30.04, securing the 39th place overall position and outpacing runners from 22 different Division I schools. This lightning pace set a new personal best for the Great Barrington, Mass. native, surpassing his previous record by more than 19 seconds. LaRochelle's superb run also solidified his position as seventh all-time in school history for the indoor 5,000 meters.
In the late afternoon, Eshghi and Denton represented the Fords in a highly competitive mile field. A total of 358 runners participated in the mile, with 43 breaking the four-minute barrier. Eshghi, competing in the 13th heat of the day, executed a late kick to lead much of the final lap. However, he was overtaken late by two Division I power five competitors, Christopher Hill of Rutgers and Charlie Smith of Georgia Tech. Eshghi finished with a time of 4:07.28, a new personal best for the Lincoln, Mass. native, and a potential NCAA qualifying time. This mark also stands as the seventh-fastest in program indoor history.
Denton, of Cinnaminson, N.J., entered the track in the 21st heat, crossing the finish line in 4:15.66, a new career best. With national results still being reported, Denton's time is expected to be second in the Centennial Conference this season, trailing only Eshghi. This positions Haverford well for a significant point advantage in the upcoming Centennial Conference indoor mile in two weeks.
Haverford will now return home for the Keogh Invitational on Saturday, February 17, inside Alumni Field House. The action will commence at 10:30 a.m. in the final tune-up for the Centennial Conference Championships.