HAVERFORD, Pa. — The Haverford College women's track and field team delivered a strong performance at the 2026 Seamus McElligott Invitational, highlighted by Taniya Denson improving upon her own Haverford College school record in the pole vault and Olivia D'Aulerio's first-place finish in the women's 800 meters. Denson cleared 3.20 meters (10 feet, 6 inches) to remain the top performer in program history, while D'Aulerio posted a time of 2:19.11, the 10th-fastest mark in Haverford College history. The Fords also excelled in the relays, claiming victories in both the women's 4×200 and 4×400, with the latter producing the second-fastest time in program history.
The pole vault once again stole the spotlight, as Denson won the event and reset her own school record by clearing 3.20 meters (10 feet, 6 inches), surpassing the 3.17-meter (10 feet, 4.75 inches) mark she set last week at the Ramapo Invitational.
The middle-distance events proved to be a major strength for Haverford, led by D'Aulerio's win in the 800 meters. Junior Anastasia Jaycobs followed closely in second with a time of 2:20.59, as the Fords placed five runners inside the top seven. Seniors Savannah Shaw (4th, 2:24.60) and Carly Priest (6th, 2:25.86), along with first-year Devyn Telleen (7th, 2:26.03), contributed to the depth. Maia Poremba placed 10th in 2:32.53, Sophia Furman finished 13th at 2:37.42, and Maggie Blanford rounded out the event in 14th with a time of 2:39.85.
Haverford also claimed a pair of relay victories, as the 4×200-meter relay team of Anna Berry, Beatrice Di Girolamo, Nadine Tang, and Lorelei Middleton won in 1:52.15. The 4×400-meter relay squad of Middleton, Telleen, Jaycobs, and D'Aulerio crushed the event and captured first place with a time of 4:02.62, marking the second-fastest performance in program history.
Tang led the Scarlet and Black in the 60 meters, placing fourth with a time of 8.34 seconds. Middleton followed in sixth at 8.37, while sophomore Zofi Sanders finished 13th in 8.91. Junior Abigail Miyake rounded out the event with a 17th-place finish in 9.37, setting a new personal best. In the hurdles, first-year Adriana Rogow delivered a fourth-place finish in the 60-meter hurdles, crossing the line in 12.78.
Tang and Miyake returned to the track in the 200 meters, placing fifth (28.23) and 13th (31.17), respectively.
The 400 meters saw Emery Casucci take fifth in 1:07.25, Madison Lewis finish sixth at 1:08.23, and Katie Strutton place eighth in 1:11.39.
In the mile, senior Jessie Hausman recorded a third-place finish in 5:34.00, a new personal best, with junior Alice Sappenfield right behind in fourth at 5:37.26.
Hausman continued her standout day in the 3000 meters, placing second in 11:09.16, another personal best. Sophomore Bianca Ortiz added a third-place finish in 11:13.22, also a personal best, while Poppy Chrisman (6th, 11:40.85) and first-year Madeline Ruchelman (7th, 11:41.28) both posted strong performances, with Ruchelman setting a personal best. Senior Audrey Carter placed 10th in 11:58.79, a personal best, while juniors Claire Parsons (12th, 12:16.82) and Judy Xie (13th, 12:44.85), along with sophomore Natalie Kruglyak (16th, 13:28.22), rounded out the field.
In the field events, Rogow and Di Girolamo tied for third in the high jump, each clearing 1.35 meters (4 feet, 5 inches). Sanders returned to action in the long jump, placing fourth with a mark of 4.45 meters (14 feet, 7 inches), a new personal best. In the shot put, senior Sarah Wilcher finished fourth with a throw of 10.45 meters (34 feet, 3 inches), Di Girolamo placed ninth at 8.68 meters (28 feet, 6 inches), and Rogow recorded a mark of 5.81 meters (18 feet, 1 inch).
The Fords will return to action next weekend at the two-day Widener Schuylkill Showdown, with competition taking place in Chester, Pa. on Saturday and at the Ott Center in Philadelphia, Pa. on Sunday.
