Harvard's Cross Country Squads Set Personal Records at Nuttycombe Invitational and the NEICAAA Cross Country Championships

Harvard’s cross country team traveled to America’s Dairyland and the Granite State to compete in the Nuttycombe Invitational and the NEICAAA Cross Country Championships. The trips proved fruitful as the team’s young roster set several new personal records and posted strong team finishes, including a tenth-place finish for the men at Nuttycombe in a very competitive field.

Finishing 23rd, sophomore Tam Gavenas spurred the Crimson to a tenth-place team finish at the Nuttycombe Invitational in Madison, Wis. With a time of 23:09.0, the Andover, Mass., native blazed to a new personal record over the 8,000-meter course.

In 27th place, captain Samuel Burgess was the second Harvard athlete to cross the finish line. In his season debut, the senior ran a time of 23:12.4, which was also a new personal record. Sophomore Benjamin Bouie followed Burgess to claim 74th place. Bouie finished in 23:42.8, notching a new personal record.

Grant Schroder, another sophomore, was Harvard’s fourth scorer and fourth runner to notch a new personal best. He earned 97th place after finishing in 23:54.8. Senior Ethan Aidam rounded out the scoring for the Crimson and extended the personal-record streak.​​ With a speedy 24:11.7, the Columbia, Md., native crossed the tape to take 145th place.

In sixth place for Harvard and 170th overall, freshman Nathan Lee ran a personal record time of 24:22.5. Sophomore Brady Mullen was the final Crimson runner in the men’s championship race. He finished 224th in 25:39.7.

Harvard also had two runners compete in the Nuttycombe men’s B race, which also occurred on an 8,000-meter course. Freshman Baylor Miller was 40th overall in this race. His time of 24:36.8 made him the seventh and final male Crimson runner to record a personal best time at the Invitational. Just behind Miller was junior Will Brunner, who secured 48th place.

For the third time in three races, freshman Aelo Curtis was the first female runner to cross the line for Harvard. The rookie ran a personal best time of 20:48.2 over the 6,000-meter competition. Her effort was good for 96th on the day. Greta Hammer, another freshman, placed second for the Crimson. With a time of 21:04.7, she finished 131st overall and established a new personal best.

In 152nd place, captain Sophia Gorriaran was the next woman to finish for Harvard. Gorriaran crossed the tape in 21:12.7. Behind the captain, in 184th, was freshman Siena Mackley, who set a personal record with a time of 21:37.3. The final scorer for the Crimson was junior Abby Sadler, whose time of 22:18.6 earned her 204th.

Freshman Abby Downin was the first Harvard alternate. She placed 209th and cemented a new personal record of 22:25.0. Sophomore Callie Wallace wrapped up the Crimson action in Wisconsin. Wallace completed her race in 23:48.5 and was the 221st finisher.

A number of Harvard athletes also competed in New Hampshire for the NEICAAA Cross Country Championships. Led by freshman Nicholas Ponte, the men’s team placed seventh at the meet. Ponte finished 15th overall, and his time of 25:21.8 was a new personal record over 8,000 meters.

Freshman Ayoub Farah was close on Ponte’s tail in 17th place. Farah also set a new personal record with a time of 25:23.3. The next Crimson runner to cross the finish line was sophomore Eamon Gordon, the 30th scorer, who placed 31st overall. Gordon’s time of 25:39.2 made him the third Harvard athlete in New Hampshire to record a new personal best.

Sophomore Andrew Thornton-Sherman was the fourth Crimson athlete to cross the tape. Thornton-Sherman was the 71st finisher and completed his race in 26:25.8. Sophomore Levi Harrison was the last scorer in New Hampshire. The Chestnut Hill, Mass., native set a new personal record with a time of 26:46.6, earning 100th place. Freshman Alex Cheng was the final Harvard men’s runner and finished 150th.

Two women joined the men competing in the NEICAAA Cross Country Championships. Sophomore Ella Cohen completed the 5,000-meter race in 18:51.7, which was a personal record. Caitlyn Chang, another sophomore, also set a personal best with her time of 19:49.6. The two runners placed 47th and 99th, respectively.

The Crimson’s cross country team will continue its season this weekend at the ECAC Championships in Bethpage, N.Y.

—Staff writer Samuel A. Freeman can be reached at [email protected].