CHESTER, Pa. - The Haverford College men's outdoor track & field team competed on the first day of the Danny Curran Invitational at the Widener Campus on Friday, gaining some early season experience in distance events to kick off the 2024 outdoor campaign in earnest. 

The first event to hit the track was the 5,000 meters, with a large contingent of Haverford runners making their outdoor season debuts in the event. Fresh off an appearance at the NCAA Indoor Championships earlier this month, Reza Eshghi led all attached finishers in the event with a time of 14:26.62, setting a new career-best in the process. Reigning cross country All-American Peter LaRochelle also secured a top-five finish on Friday,  crossing the line in 14:56.75. Micah Lachman finished ninth with a career-best time of 15:03.21, while Matthew Denton followed closely in tenth place with a time of 15:03.43.

Seamus Fraser finished 19th in 15:25.50, with Owen Bluman close behind in 21st place with a time of 15:26.95. Reed Solomon finished 35th with a time of 15:52.17, and Luke de Valpine made his outdoor collegiate debut, crossing the line in 41st place with a time of 15:59.99. William Harris (16:20.75) and Sam Diaz (16:31.40) finished 51st and 54th respectively, for Haverford, while Seawon Park finished 64th in 17:12.1, and Cullen Worth crossed the line in 66th place with a time of 17:34.64.

 In the 10,000 meters, Luca Ponticello was the first Haverford runner to finish, placing 15th with a time of 31:54.14, followed by Jakob Maiwald in 20th place with a time of 32:25.01. Sammy Schindel secured a 29th place finish with a time of 32:55.48, and Joseph DeRosa followed closely in 31st place with a time of 32:59.77. Kieran McDonnell crossed the line in 55th place with a time of 36:38.58, while Rowan Shigeno (59th, 37:31.27) and Xingyun Yang (60th, 37:39.98) completed the Haverford contingent.

The Fords will kick off day two of the Danny Curran Invitational tomorrow at 10 a.m. with the long jump.