CARLISLE, Pa. - The Haverford College men's outdoor track and field team impressed in their first day of competition in the Centennial Conference Championships, headlined by a first place finish in the 10,000 meter distance from Dylan Verner-Crist. Haverford showcased athletes in two of the day's events and accrued points in both. After the first day of competition, Haverford sits content in second place with 21 points. Last year's winner, Johns Hopkins, leads the event with 34 points.
Verner-Crist led the pack in what was expected to be an event that heavily favored Haverford. He crossed the finish line with a total time of 31:23.57, over 12 seconds faster than the second place runner. The time is a new personal best for the senior, besting his old record of 32:17.39, which he set at last year's Centennial Conference Championships. Not trailing too far behind, junior Jimmy Gorman placed third with a final time (and also a new personal best) of 31:42.90. Senior Sam Fujimori gained some points for the Fords as well with a seventh place finish.
In the pole vault, freshman Greg Van Aken made his Conference Championship debut with a mark of 3.91 meters for a sixth place finish and three more points to Haverford's total.
The Conference Championships will start up again tomorrow and continue through the weekend.
Check out Championship Central for more coverage on all of Haverford's postseason athletics.