Men's Track & Field Competes in Haverford Invitational

Chris Goings
Chris Goings

HAVERFORD, Pa. – The Haverford College men's outdoor track & field team competed in its lone home meet of the 2019 outdoor schedule, dueling with Widener at Johnson Track on Monday afternoon. Widener came away with the head-to-head victory, but a litany of impressive performances dotted the schedule for the Fords.

In the 1,500-meter run, senior Chris Goings paced the field with a time of 3:59.69, a a new career best and the ninth-best time in the Centennial Conference this season. Ian Woodhouse was sixth, finishing in 4:10.32, also a new career-best mark for the senior. Sophomores Matt Katz (4:13.76) and Oscar Melendez (4:35.71) rounded out the Haverford finishers in the event.

The 800-meter run saw a bevy of Haverford entrants, as junior Hiroshi Kawakatsu was at the front of the pack, crossing in second in 2:00.08. Junior James Barker was just behind his classmate, finishing third in 2:01.51, while sophomore Jacob Landsberg (2:05.05), first-year Jeffrey Allen (2:05.39), sophomore Simon Perales (2:05.55), junior William Hillegas (2:11.76), first-year Jacob Gaba (2:15.71), senior Liam Lynch (2:18.60), and senior Josh Frye (2:22.93) rounded out the Haverford finishers.

In the sprints, senior Kofi Acheampong took home the title in the 200 meters, finishing in 22.96, a new career-best. Senior Oscar Huang was the sixth-place finisher, crossing in 23.62, also a personal record. Acheampong was third in the 100 meter dash in a new personal-best time of 11.52, while Huang was the ninth-place finisher in 11.95. The 4 x 100 meter relay squad featuring senior Greg Van Aken, Acheampong, Huang, and Lynch crossed in 45.08.

In field events, sophomore Silvan Sooksatan had a great showing in the long jump, taking the event title after clearing 6.06 meters (19'-10.75"), a new career-best. Sooksatan was also Haverford's top finisher in the high jump, finishing in a second-place tie with a jump of 1.72 meters (5'-7.75"). Junior Cameron Albrecht finished fourth, also clearing 1.72 meters. Senior Rohan Shukla and sophomore Andrew Lummus each tallied jumps of 12.86 meters (42'-2.25") in the triple jump. 

Three Fords will now head to the Penn Relays as senior Greg Morgan will contest the 5,000 meters. His race is slated to begin at 9:20 p.m. Morgan will be one of three Fords to compete on the men's side as senior Graham Peet contests the 3,000-meter steeplechase at 7:30 p.m. while senior Ryan Herlihy is entered in the 10,000 meters at approximately 11 p.m. to wrap up action on distance night at the oldest and largest track & field competition in the nation.