Clever Breaks Javelin Mark

Snow may have blanketed Massachusetts throughout spring break, but that did nothing to delay the start of the Harvard outdoor track season in Texas, where the men's and women's track teams once again competed at the Texas Southern Relays and the Rice Bayou Classic.

At Rice, the men's team placed third and women's team finished second. The hosts won both meets comfortably.

Men's co-captain Chris Clever began his season in record-setting fashion with a throw of 70.32 meters in the javelin. Clever's throw, well past the NCAA provisional qualifying mark of 67.30 meters, was the fifth-best in the country this season. Clever last competed at the 2000 Olympic Trials where he threw 65.76 meters. He is the two-time defending Heptagonal champion in the event and the school record holder.

The Crimson dominated the throwing events at the meet. Co-captain John Kraay won the shot put. Sandra Venghaus won the javelin on the women's side. Tarek Hamid and Johanna Doyle won the men's and women's hammer, respectively.

Women's co-captain Brenda Taylor finished the 400-meter intermediate hurdles in 57.02 seconds--an automatic qualifying time for NCAAs--but good enough for just third against the tough Bayou field. Taylor's mark was the best March performance of her career. She ran 56.64 at the Olympic Trials this summer.

Taylor also won the 100-meter high hurdles in 13.69 seconds. Sophomore high jumper Kart Siilats, the NCAA indoor champion, also won her event, clearing 1.73 meters.