Scherf Sets Harvard Record in 5,000 Meters

Kate Wiley ’85 owes Lindsey Scherf a phone call.

After Scherf set the Harvard 10,000-meter record as a freshman, she had the opportunity to meet with the previous record holder. Now that the super sophomore has shattered Wiley’s 22-year old Harvard record in the women’s indoor 5,000 meters by 18 seconds, it seems only appropriate that a congratulatory call would be in order.

“[Coach] Frank [Haggerty] has told me a bunch about her,” Scherf said. “I’d love to speak with her and get to know her.”

But Harvard records just weren’t enough for Scherf on Saturday against Boston College. She posted the world’s fastest time to date in the young indoor track season.

Scherf’s effort spearheaded a dominating Harvard performance, as the team bested BC 80-46 while winning 10 of the 15 events. Freshman Shannon Flahive won three events in her first collegiate meet, notching victories in the 200-meter dash, 60-meter hurdles, and long jump.

The women’s team continued the youth trend with a talented trio of freshman earning wins. Jan Ng won the 800-meter run, Becky Christensen took the high jump, and Elissa Reidy walked away with the triple jump.

Sophomore Sally Stanton won the pole vault event, while senior Stevie DeGroff won the 60-meter dash.

But the talk of the day was Scherf’s spectacular finish.

“I just really surprised myself with the outcome,” Scherf said. “All of it was really great and more than I expected.”

Scherf’s 15:42.81 was also the second-fastest time of the 2005 calendar year by an American woman, behind only Lauren Fleshman, who posted a 15:35.25 in January.

Wiley’s record was 16:00.90, set in 1983.

Record breaking has become quite a habit for the Scarsdale, N.Y., native, who also holds the junior American 10,000-meter record. But the records are certainly not a distraction.

“I think it’s all how you look at it,” Scherf said. “It can intimidate you, or you look at it as extra incentive.”

This race also signaled a strong return for Scherf in her first race since a disappointing 53rd-place finish in the NCAA Cross Country championships.

“It was just a good way to put what happened at the last country race behind me,” Scherf said. “I think a huge variable that kind of aided my performance was that I was relaxed. I didn’t have the high expectations I put on myself at Nationals.”

Last year, Scherf finished seventh in the nation in the 5,000 meters, setting her previous personal best with 16:09.38, a full 26 seconds slower than her new time.

The time automatically qualifies her for the 2006 NCAA Indoor Track Championships, which will be held March 10-11 at the University of Arkansas. But before then, Scherf has set her sights on a new record. Notre Dame’s Molly Huddle currently holds the American junior record of 15:36.95, a mere six seconds away from Scherf’s time.

“Frank and I are going to talk on Monday. We’re going to discuss whether or not I try to shave off seven seconds this weekend,” Scherf said.

On Dec. 10 Harvard will host the Harvard Invitational at Gordon Track. It could be the setting for yet another Scherf record.

In the meantime, Wiley needs to get in touch.