The start of a race is usually marked by reverential silence, particularly if that race includes world 100-meter record holder Maurice Green. At Penn Relays this past weekend, however, the announcer had to repeatedly ask the crowd to quiet their cheering to start the feature 4x100m relay.
The reason?
Princeton's Tora Harris.
Harris, a senior, was named the outstanding performer of the meet for his high jump clearance of 2.30m (seven feet, 6.5 inches). Jumping six for six, Harris not only broke his own school record, but also tied the collegiate Penn Relays record, set in 2000 by Sydney Olympic silver medalist Mark Boswell.
Following his win at indoor nationals in March, Harris and coach Fred Samara spent hours upon hours using video analysis to incrementally modify his technique.
"On Saturday the work really paid off," Harris said. "I was in a zone since I don't really remember much about the jump. I recall slightly brushing the bar at 2.30m. When I landed on the mat and looked up, I saw the bar shaking but steady. Fifty-thousand people went nuts. It was unreal."
Franklin Field was not designed with high jumpers in mind. In a jumpers approach, he must transition from Astroturf to the Mondo track surface, which, Harris notes, makes timing extremely difficult.
"All high jumpers I know have some fear about competing in the Penn facility," Harris said.
In beating indoor national runnerup Adam Shank of the University of North Carolina, Harris soared to the top of the national outdoor list.
"It has been a long struggle," Harris said, "but finally I have reached a world class height at a world class meet."
Harris' accomplishments were more than impressive, as were the performances of other Princeton competitors.
Sophomore All-America Josh McCaughey threw the hammer 62.09m to break the school record, placing fourth in a highly contested championship division, and moving up on the list of NCAA provisional qualifiers. Classmate Rocky Craley finished second in the Eastern Division shot put with a distance of 16.84m.
Sophomore Tristan Colangelo and junior Jon Bell approached the NCAA provisional standard in the 5000m, running 14:06 and 14:10, respectively, for third and fifth place in the Championship of America bracket.
Doubling that distance — running 25 laps for 10km — the Tigers recorded two qualifying times for the Intercollegiate Association of Amateur Athletes of America. Sophomore Jeff DiChiara, showing his affinity and talent for longer distances, clocked 30:46.31 for 28th place. Junior Josh Ordway finished 21st with a time of 30:27.28.
Although the men's 4x800m team — Jon Kieliszak, Josh Kauke, Ryan Smith and David Dean — did not equal the national leading time they recorded indoors, Smith emphasized the merit of head-to-head competition with the best in the nation.
"We went out there, competed, held our own, and definitely turned a few heads," said Smith, who ran the third leg in 1:48.2 and brought a trailing Princeton team back into the lead.
A trio of All-Americas passed anchor David Dean while he brought Princeton home in a very respectable fourth place, three seconds back of champion Georgetown.
"Although Penn Relays is just an amazing atmosphere," senior captain Ryan Smith said, "the sheer size of the meet doesn't necessarily constitute very good times. There's nothing that can compare to running out onto the track with 50,000 screaming fans, but starting 15 teams in five lanes means that some teams are going to get left behind."
Competitors are treated like cattle, lined up, row upon stationary row. Although understandable logistically for a meet of such a size, in a sport where warm-ups are precisely timed and limberness of muscle is crucial, the splits recorded at Penn are often not personal bests. Nonetheless, the raw competition is what keeps teams from all over the country flying back year after year, and what keeps tens of thousands of fans paying entry fees and buying deep-fried funnel cakes.
A selection of athletes will return to the track Tuesday at 5pm, as Princeton hosts the Broadmeade Invitational. Autograph seekers be warned: Tora Harris will likely not be competing.
Read More
Six for six: men’s and women’s track and field both complete triple crown
Luke StocklessMen’s and women’s track and field each won the Ivy League title this past weekend, capping off a dominant season in which both teams won the triple crown — a feat not seen in 14 years.
Men’s and women’s track and field each won the Ivy League title this past weekend, capping off a dominant season in which both teams won the triple crown — a feat not seen in 14 years.
Nation’s No. 2 miler Mena Scatchard ’25 to transfer to Stanford for graduate year
Luke StocklessThe Tigers’ most decorated distance runner ever has decided to use her final year of eligibility at Stanford after graduating from Princeton this May.
The Tigers’ most decorated distance runner ever has decided to use her final year of eligibility at Stanford after graduating from Princeton this May.
Two-way treats: Shenefelt and Kram do it all for Princeton baseball team
Joseph UglialoroThe baseball team features two players who hit and pitch, a rarity at the college level. Nick Shenefelt and Kaden Kram each took unique paths to playing both ways this season.
The baseball team features two players who hit and pitch, a rarity at the college level. Nick Shenefelt and Kaden Kram each took unique paths to playing both ways this season.