BOSTON, MA - Nine members of the Iona University indoor track program competed in three events at the 2023 David Hemery Valentine Invitational on Saturday. Senior
Jamie Dee and junior
Joshua DeSouza ran a sub-eight minute 3,000-meter times and sophomore
Matt Rankin blazed a 4:01.86 mile to lead the Gaels at Boston University.
MEN'S 3,000-METER RUN
Dee lowered his personal best time by more than a second, posting a 7:53.69. Sitting in seventh in Iona history, prior to the event he jumped former teammate
Jack O'Leary for the sixth fastest indoor 3k time in school history. He finished 18th among the 250 runners in the event. DeSouza also topped his previous best time by more than a second, running a 7:55.56. He lowered the eighth fastest time at Iona that he previously held. DeSouza was 26th in Boston. Senior
Graham Baird was 85th overall, posting a nine-second personal best in 8:10.56. Freshman
Scott Fagan (104th, 8:12.91) competed in his first 3k event at Iona. Maroon & Gold alumnus
Ehab El-Sandali, competing professionally for Puma Elite Running Team was the 10th overall finisher in 7:48.67.
MEN'S MILE
Rankin's time of 4:01.86 was 63rd overall in the 432 runner race field. It was the 10th fastest time in school history. Rankin is the first runner to enter Iona's top 10 mile since 2018. Junior
Nick Soldevere ran an indoor personal best time of 4:05.34, moving into the top 20 all time in school history. He was 94th overall. Freshman
Aiden Coles ran his first indoor mile in Maroon & Gold and finished 126th with a 4:08.13. Sophomore
Damien Dilcher was 275th, in 4:15.87.
MEN'S 5,000-METER RUN
Junior
Peter Schulten opened the day for the Gaels with a 92nd place finish in the 5k (15:24.51).
IONA PERFORMERS
Mile:
Matt Rankin, 63rd, 4:01.86;
Nick Soldevere, 94th, 4:05.34;
Aiden Coles, 126th, 4:08.13;
Damien Dilcher, 275th, 4:15.87; 3k:
Ehab El-Sandali (alum), 10th, 7:48.67,
Jamie Dee, 18th, 7:53.69;
Joshua DeSouza, 26th, 7:55.56;
Graham Baird, 85th, 8:10.56;
Scott Fagan, 104th, 8:12.91. 5k:
Peter Schulten, 92nd, 15:24.51.
UP NEXT
The Gaels tackle the 2023 MAAC Indoor Track & Field Championships at the Armory on Saturday and Sunday. Both nights commence at 5 p.m. in New York City.
SOCIAL MEDIA
Be sure to follow Iona University athletics on all social media platforms:
ICGaels: Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube (
Email Updates).
Iona Cross Country/Track: Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
