BOSTON - The Haverford College men's track & field team competed at the David Hemery Valentine Invitational at Boston University on Saturday. The outing was highlighted by yet another standout performance from senior Greg Morgan in the mile.
Morgan, a defending All-American in the distance, finished 28th overall in a truly elite field that featured the fastest mile time in the NCAA this season from Waleed Suliman of Ole Miss, and saw the top seven finishers all break the four-minute barrier. Morgan was the top Division III finisher in the distance with a time of 4:05.01, a new career-best as he furthered his cushion at the top of the Division III qualifying list.
Finishing second in a speedy heat in which he was the only Division III entrant, Morgan topped his previous career-best mark by more than five seconds. The time was more than two seconds better than his previous mark's banked-track conversion.
The effort was the fourth-fastest mile in Haverford indoor history, putting Morgan's mile prowess in a rarefied program top five that includes Haverford greats Karl Paranya '97, Kevin Foley '83, Charlie Marquardt '16 and Matt Leighninger '92.
Already a three-time Centennial Conference Track Athlete of the Week selection this season, the Hollidaysburg, Pa. product continues to prove himself as one of the nation's most impressive milers, and took another giant step forward at the Boston University Track & Tennis Center.
Sophomore Matt Katz was the second Haverford finisher in the distance, finishing in 4:23.29, good for a 166th place finish overall. First year Nico Tripeny was 178th, as he crossed in 4:25.25, a new career best. Junior James Barker crossed in 202nd, with a time of 4:27.24.
Earlier in the day, senior Chris Goings paced the Haverford contingent in the 800 meters, finishing in 1:52.29, a time good for a 107th place finish. Junior Hiroshi Kawakatsu was 161st in a career-best time of 1:58.42. Senior Ian Woodhouse finished 180th in 1:59.12, breaking the two-minute mark for the first time in his career.
In the 400 meters, senior Liam Lynch finished 91st with a time of 50.57. Lynch narrowly missed his personal record, but posted a mark that is the top in the Centennial Conference so far this season.
In the 5,000 meters, senior Graham Peet finished eighth in the second heat and 26th overall with a time of 14:42.94. Senior Ryan Herlihy was 21st in the same heat and 59th overall with a time of 15:05.13.
Junior Conor Madden crossed in 77th overall, with a career-best time of 15:19.31, while sophomore Jack Hunter was 91st with a personal-best 15:27.44. First year Peter Buckley was just behind Hunter, with a time of 15:27.52 in his initial foray into the distance. Junior David Watt was 106th with a time of 15:38.54. Junior Sam McCalpin finished 118th overall with a time of 15:50.86.
Haverford will next be in action hosting its final home meet of the season, the Keogh Invitational, on Saturday, February 16. Action is expected to begin at 10:30 a.m inside the Alumni Field House.