Princeton University Athletics
Harris Named Eastern Track Athlete of the Year
January 02, 2003 | Men's Track and Field
Jan. 2, 2003
Tora Harris '02 was recently named the 2002 Athlete of the Year by Eastern Track. Harris captured both the indoor and outdoor NCAA high jump championships and wrapped up his collegiate career as an eight-time Heptagonal champion in 2002. Harris was recently ranked as the No. 1 high jumper in America.
Harris captured both the indoor and outdoor NCAA high jump championships last year. Harris' 2.26m (7'-5") leap at the indoor NCAA championships earned him his first national title and made him Princeton's first individual track and field NCAA champion since Dave Pellegrini '80 in 1980. Harris captured the outdoor NCAA championship high jump title, clearing 2.25m (7'4.5") to become the first Princeton track and field athlete to win two individual national championships in a career.
Harris cleared 2.31m (7'7") at the 2002 outdoor Heptagonal championships and entered the NCAA championship as the favorite. Harris' Heptagonal jump was the best collegiate mark this past year, and at the time ranked Harris as the No. 4 high jumper the world. Harris also cleared 2.30m (7'6.5") while competing at the 2002 Penn Relays, equaling the meet record.
Harris is preparing to qualify for the 2003 World Championships and the 2004 Summer Olympics that will be held in Athens, Greece.