PHILADELPHIA -- After some alterations to team selection with an eye to the Ivy Outdoor Championships, only one Yale athlete competed at Day 1 of the Penn Relays Thursday – but he did not disappoint.
 
Elon Abergel made the most of this late-season racing opportunity and set a marker in the lead up to Yale's upcoming conference meet. The sophomore took more than three seconds off his 1500m time from last weekend at the Virginia Challenge and in doing so, set a new collegiate best of 3:47.42s. Abergel showed spot-on consistency in his race, running laps ranging from 60.31 seconds to 61.13 seconds and finishing fourth overall in a highly competitive second heat. He did not let up at all over the course of the race, notably overtaking three athletes in his penultimate lap before then holding that position through the line. 
 
Abergel has strung together a solid year of training after injuries led to a stop-start first season with the Bulldogs, and now the Israel native appears to be hitting his stride. With undoubtable talent and a penchant for high-level meets (qualifying for the final at the U23 European Championships in 2021), Abergel will definitely be one to watch from Yale.
 
The 1500m has typically been Abergel's hallmark event, but with a new 800m all-time best of 1:51.76 also this season, it remains to be seen which hand coach Matt Gutridge will deal come Heps.
 
Full results for the event can be found on the Penn Relays website here.