NEW HAVEN, CT - A trio of Gaels earned first place honors as the Iona University men's outdoor track program competed at the 2023 Yale Elite Last Chance Meet. The Maroon & Gold competed in an attempt to earn final slots in the upcoming NCAA East Preliminary Rounds.
1,500-METER RUN
Senior
Mael Gouyette earned first place honors in the 1,500-meter run, posting a time of 3:43.28. It was his second fastest 1,500-meter time of the season. At the time of writing, his top effort of 3:42.01 ranks 51st in the east. Junior
Nick Soldevere finished sixth and ran a personal best time of 3:45.40, a mark inside the Top 15 on Iona's all-time performance list. Freshmen brothers
Aiden Coles (9th, 3:47.61) and
Tristan Coles (15th, 3:50.01) also competed in the race.
5000-METER RUN
Senior
Graham Baird was the top finisher in the 5,000-meter run, earning a huge personal best time of 13:58.55. The time ranks No. 15 on the Gaels' all-time performance list. He topped his previous best outdoor 5k by nearly 37 seconds and overall 5k by eight. It stands at No. 63 on the NCAA East qualifying list. Freshman
Tadhg Donnelly finished fifth overall in 14:16.67. The Maroon & Gold duo were paced by Gouyette who set the tone over the first 3,000-meters before dropping out.
10,000-METER RUN
Sophomore
Lachlan Wellington finished first in the 10,000-meter run. His time of 29:22.89 was a season best and put him into the running for a bid into the NCAA East Preliminaries. At the time of writing, his time ranks 51st in the East.
IONA PERFORMERS
1500:
Mael Gouyette, 1st, 3:43.28;
Nick Soldevere, 6th, 3:45.40;
Aiden Coles, 9th, 3:47.61;
Tristan Coles, 15th, 3:50.01.
5k:
Graham Baird, 1st, 13:58.55;
Tadhg Donnelly, 5th, 14:16.67.
10k:
Lachlan Wellington, 1st, 29:22.89.
UP NEXT
Iona awaits bids into the NCAA East Preliminaries set for May 24-27 in Jacksonville, FL, hosted by the University of North Florida at Hodges Stadium.
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