Women Earn Win Over Yale at Annual Harvard-Yale Track and Field Meet

Pictured: Claire Richardson helped the Crimson women to a win over the Bulldogs with a title in the 3,000 meter run.
Photo Courtesy: David Silverman

NEW HAVEN, Conn. – The Harvard track and field team had a strong showing in a cold, rainy showdown with Ancient Eight rival Yale as the women captured a 94-69 win while the men fell just short in an 86-77 defeat.

After the Bulldog women took an number of event wins in the sprints to start the meet, the Crimson began to grab titles of its own, fronted by Claire Richardson with a win in the 3,000 meter run in a time of 9:40.62. Harvard swept the 100 meter hurdles as Ashtynn Baltimore, Meghan Ferreira and Christine Reed finished one-two-three in the event. Melissa Bellin ran a time of 1:03.29 to take the 400 meter hurdle title to round out Harvard's track event wins. The Crimson dominated the field events, capturing seven event titles lead by Shannon Watt's wins in the shot put and discus. Baltimore took the long jump, Mary Hirst won in the high jump, Sydnie Leroy captured the pole vault, Olivia Weeks earned the triple jump title and Brianne Holland-Stergar rounded out the wins with a title on the hammer throw.

Brian Paison earned Harvard's first win of the day with a victory in the 800 meter run and Chas Gillespie and Phil Galebach followed with a one-two finish in the 5,000 meter event. Justin Grinstead posted a time of 53.59 to take the 400 meter hurdles and Blaine Bolus' mark of 14.24 meters in the triple jump proved to be the best leap of the meet. Jack Brady and Edward Brucker earned eight points for Harvard with a one-two finish in the shot put and Brady chipped in six more with second-place finishes in the discus and hammer throw. Eric Clayman captured the hammer title with a toss of 53.65 and Aaron Palmer wrapped up the meet with a winning mark of 60.40 meters in the javelin.

Up next for the Crimson is the Penn Relays, beginning April 21 and going through April 24 at Penn's Franklin Field.