HAVERFORD, Pa. – Looking to continue its momentum from a strong indoor campaign, the Haverford College women's track & field team gets the outdoor season underway this Saturday at West Chester's Golden Rams Invitational. The Fords, who were picked third in the Centennial Conference preseason poll, finished in that exact position a year ago.
Katie Sullivan returns as the defending conference champion in the 800 meters and is coming off of her second All-America performance during the indoor season when she placed eighth in the mile. Sullivan has also won two indoor conference titles and currently ranks sixth in the school history in the 800 meters. Her 1,500 meter time is currently the third fastest in school history.
Joining Sullivan in the record book for many of the distance events are Amelia Keyser-Gibson and Nicole Giannetti. Keyser-Gibson placed second in the 5,000 meters during last year's outdoor conference championship and currently ranks third in school history in that event. She is a two-time Centennial Conference Champion in her career, winning the indoor 5,000 meters and running on the DMR during the 2016 season. Giannetti was also a member of that championship DMR team and currently holds the sixth fastest time in school history in the 1,500 meters, seventh quickest mark in the steeplechase, and eighth fastest time in the 5,000 meters.
Taylor Murphy won the 60 meter hurdles and 4x200 relay during the indoor season and enters this spring as the reigning conference runner-up in the 100 meter hurdles. She is ranked third in school history after just one season in the 200 meter dash while ranking fourth in both the 100 meter dash and hurdles. Looking to join her at the top of the conference is Mairead Ferry. Ferry ranks third in program history in the 100 meter hurdles. She is a two-time All-Centennial Conference honoree between the indoor and outdoor seasons.
In the field events, Claire Sargent was the conference runner-up a year ago in the shot put, but has won an indoor title in that event. She is currently ranked second in school history for the shot put along with having the ninth-best discus toss. Emily Anderson joins the outdoor team for the spring where she is the school record holder in the hammer, ranks second in the discus, and 10th in both the shot put and javelin.
Elizabeth Reikowski is the fifth ranked triple jumper in school history and coming off a second place finish at the indoor conference championships. She is a two-team All-Centennial Conference selection between the two track seasons. Grace Mathis is the fifth-ranked outdoor pole vaulter in program history. Ferry could also contribute to this event as she is the College's indoor record holder.
Haverford will be in action during each of the six weekends of the regular season before the Centennial Conference Outdoor Track & Field Championships take place the weekend of May 5-7 at Johns Hopkins. The Fords' lone home meet on Johnson Track will be Tuesday, April 25 with a 4:30 p.m. start time.