Team of the Year
cultivates community is a big proponent of their success. “There’s a genuine [care] for one another and a feeling that this is a big family,” said Sarestsky about the team’s culture and its relation to their success. “When you have that sense of belonging to something that’s much bigger than just yourself, it allows you to do so much more than you otherwise could.” In the indoor season, the women’s team continued to dominate. They won the Heptagonal Ivy League Championships with 177 points, a full 25 points more than second-place Princeton. Ramsden was named the women’s Ivy League Most Valuable Track Athlete for her two wins in the women’s mile and 1000 m run. Senior Stephanie Ratcliffe was named women’s Most Va l u able Field Athlete for her Ivy League record-setting weight throw performance. In a heartbreaker, the men’s team came even closer to the championship title during the indoor Heptagonals. By just one point, they narrowly lost with 163 points to Princeton’s 164. Sophomore Kenneth Ikeji was named men’s Most Outstanding Track Performer. At the conclusion of the championships, 27 Athletes earned All-Ivy Status. Sarestky was also named the Ivy League Women’s Indoor Track and Field Coach of the Year. Harvard also sent six athletes — who had all obtained a top sixteen spot
COURTESY OF LEXIE MEHALLIS / HARVARD ATHLETICS
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players earned spots on the New England Women’s Intercollegiate Soccer Association’s First-Team
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ALL-IVY the process. It is really nice to see that extra recognition and to have that recognition coming from those two groups is really rewarding.” Heading into the outdoor championship season, the team was looking to carry on their legacy of success, and they managed to do just that. The women’s team completed their triple crown, winning the Outdoor Ivy League Heptagonal Championships with 193 points, 33 more than second place Princeton. Ramsden was again recognized as the Women’s Most Outstanding Track Performer for her 1500 m and 5000 m wins. The men’s team finally came victorious, winning the Outdoor Championships by 66 points. Their win marks their eleventh outdoor title. Ikeji was also recognized as the men’s Most Outstanding Field Performer. The men’s team had also bumped up to 22 in the NCAA top 25 rankings after their Ivy League win. At the conclusion of the meet, Harvard had 32 athletes named All-Ivy, and Coach Sarestky was recognized as the Ivy League Men’s and Women’s Coach of the Year. “There’s so many, it’s hard to pinpoint just a few,” said Sarestky about his proudest moments and accomplishments of the team. “Starting on the women’s side, to be able to complete the triple crown is such an amazing achievement.” “Every Ivy League school is gunning for those championships each and every time, every school is filled with really talent-
ed, hardworking student athletes, and they’re all well coached,” he continued. “The end result is on the day. It’s a real testament to our women’s team. We were one point shy of [the championship] last year. This team operated with the idea of trying to be the best version of themselves, each and every day, and trying to get better.” “On the men’s side, coming so close in cross country — and even closer on the track indoors — to finally sort of breakthrough, and in a record setting way for Harvard was really wonderful,” Sarestky continued. “Forty years is a long stretch, so we’re really happy and proud of our student athletes.” The Harvard track and field men’s and women’s team has maintained a number one Northeast Regional Ranking throughout the course of the outdoor season. The team is currently gearing up for its next target: the NCAAs. “First and foremost, we don’t feel like our season is done,” Sarestky made clear. “Our attention is now squarely on the NCAAs, and we’ve got a large contingent that will be representing Harvard at the NCAA first round, and we’re trying to advance as many athletes as we can to the NCAA final round.” “It’s something we try to continue to emphasize, being present, and being in the moment,” he said. “I’m fairly sure we’re gonna have a record number of Harvard track and field student-athletes at NCAA first round, so that’s what I’m most excited about and focused on.”
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in their event — to the indoor NCAAs. “I think it’s a credit to our student athletes and our coaching staff, for the hard work and dedication they put in,” said Sarestky about the recognition that the program has gotten from both the league, as well as USTFCCA. “We try to really emphasize enjoying the journey, and it’s more about
COMMENCEMENT 2023
“We can all start and finish games and we can all come in for each other” RILEY FLYNN ’26 Pitcher
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