Harvard’s Cross Country Teams Continue Strong Seasons at the Indiana State Invite and Dartmouth Invite

In their second week of competition, Harvard’s men’s and women’s cross country teams continued their seasons with solid performances at the Indiana State Invite and Dartmouth Invite. These meets marked season and collegiate debuts for several Crimson athletes and produced three top-ten finishes.

The women’s team kicked off the action in Terre Haute, Ind., at the Lavern Gibson Championship Cross Country Course, the site of the 2026 NCAA Cross Country National Championship. For the second straight competition, freshman Aelo Curtis was the first Harvard runner to cross the tape. The rookie blazed to a 21:28.7 finish in the 6000-meter, which earned her 68th place.

Senior Sophia Gorriaran opened her season with a 21:33.8 finish, crossing the line second for the Crimson and placing 75th overall. Following Gorriaran was freshman Greta Hammer, who finished in 21:37.2 for 86th place. In fourth place for Harvard women was junior Abby Saddler in 99th place, followed by final scorer freshman Siena Mackley in 100th.

Sophomore Ella Cohen and freshman Abby Downin rounded out the women’s team in Indiana with 173rd and 179th-place finishes, respectively.

The men’s team faced some challenges as it missed two of its top runners – captains Sam Burgess and Charlie Ortmans. However, their absence provided some underclassmen with additional opportunities.

In his season debut, sophomore Tam Gavenas completed the 8000-meter course in 23:53.6, which was good for seventh place in Indiana. Sophomore Ben Bouie crossed the line in 24:17.3, following Gavenas for 29th place. In third for the men was sophomore Grant Schroder, who finished in 59th with a time of 24:34.4. Senior Ethan Aidam was close behind Schroder as he finished in 24:39.4 for 71st place.

Sophomore Brady Mullen was the fifth finisher for the Crimson in 112th place. He built on his impressive fifth-place performance two weeks ago at Providence College’s Friar Invitational with a strong 25:06.4 finish. Freshman Nathan Lee completed the men’s team in Terre Haute, Ind., finishing 122nd.

Harvard’s cross country teams also excelled closer to home at the Dartmouth Invite in Hanover, N.H. The Crimson men were led by freshman Baylor Miller, who cruised to a second-place overall finish as he completed the 8000-meter course in 24:48.2. Junior Will Brunner was the second Harvard finisher in the top ten, earning eighth place with a 24:57.2 finish.

Freshman Ayoub Farah made his collegiate debut as he raced to 25:44.8 for 39th. In 56th place, sophomore Eamon Gordon was the fourth Harvard finisher in the Granite State. Rounding out the men’s scoring at the Dartmouth Invite was sophomore Andrew Thornton-Sherman, finishing 61st.

Promising freshmen Alex Cheng and Nicholas Ponte were the final two finishers for the men’s team this weekend, placing 66th and 75th, respectively.

A trio of Crimson women also competed in Hanover on Saturday morning. Sophomore Callie Davis was the first of the three to cross the line as she claimed 58th place in the 6000-meter race with a time of 22:58.4. In 90th place was senior Samira Kennedy, who found the finish in 23:48.2. As she finished in 24:19.6, sophomore Caitlyn Chang wrapped up the meet for Harvard in 103rd place.

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