I often say that I’d have a tough time making up my mind if I had to make a choice between attending the Olympics or the Penn Relays. A slight exaggeration, perhaps, but a good indication of what the meet means to me and to thousands of other fans who make the annual trek to Franklin Field in Philadelphia.
It’s more than a track meet--the official name, after all, is “The Penn Relay Carnival.” It’s a chance to enjoy three days of competition, at all levels of the sport, with old friends who rehash the day’s events over dinner at a local pub and then eagerly look forward to the following day’s events.
Penn is always fun, no matter what the weather is, but it’s certainly more enjoyable when it’s dry and warm--which is what we all might experience this coming weekend. Let’s keep our fingers crossed.
Traditional sprint powers LSU, Texas A&M, and Florida State will again be major factors in both the men’s and women’s short events. Florida has a strong men’s 4x400, led by a familiar name, Calvin Smith (son of the former 100-meter world record holder and 2-time World 200 Champion), and a budding star in freshman Christian Taylor, the 2009 Indoor champion in the triple jump who also happens to be a fairly good 1/4-miler(he’s already run 45.34).
Tennessee’s women, with senior Sarah Bowman at the helm, could shine this year in the longer relays after finishing a close 2nd in 2008 in the 4x800, 4x1500m and distance medley.
Texas dominated the men’s 4xmile and distance medley in recent years, but anchor Leo Manzano is gone, leaving the door open for a team like Providence to move into the winners’ circle.
Old Penn favorite Arkansas has a new head coach, with Chris Bucknam replacing the legendary John McDonnell, and the Razorbacks should be competitive in the three longer men's relays.
Many of the Jamaican Olympians who performed so brilliantly in Beijing will be on hand for the USA vs. the World series of races and they are guaranteed to get a warm reception from the thousands of Jamaican fans who attend the Relays each year. Of course, everyone would love to see the amazing Usain Bolt perform, but the “official” word is that he won't be competing. But one can hope, right?
The American team will also feature many of its top stars, including Olympic champions LaShawn Merritt and Angelo Taylor, as well as Allyson Felix and Sanya Richards.
The high school events are usually on equal footing with the collegians and pros at Penn and this year should be no exception. Eleanor Roosevelt(Md) should once again challenge the Jamaican forces, at least in the 4x100 and 4x400, while Buzz Male’s Albemarle(Va) team, which set a U.S. National Indoor Record of 7:36.99 last month will lead the way in the boys 4x800.
Robby Andrews, who set National Indoor recprds in the 800 and 100 this past winter, was runnerup in the mile at last year’s Relays, but he’ll be anchoring his Manalapan(NJ) teammates in the distance medley this year. How close to 4-minutes can he get on his 1600-meter leg?
The meet will be shown live on ESPN2 on Saturday, April 25, from 4-6pmET.
IMPORTANT: See the last page for information on the construction taking place in the area of Franklin Field that will have an impact on spectators and athletes attending this year’s Relays.
Here is an event-by-event look at the 115th running of the Penn Relays. Bib numbers/letters are listed where available, as well as 2009 bests. Be sure to buy the Penn Relays program--it’s the best in the sport.
Tuesday/Wednesday, April 21,22
1-College Men Decathlon 11:00am
Penn’s Max Westman(#1), who has a best of 7.322 points, could become the first winner of this event from the host school since George Munger won in 1932, when the ten events were held on one day.
2-College Women Heptathlon 11:30am
Top seed is Coppin State’s Natoya Baird, who finished 5th in 2008.
Thursday, April 23
3-College Women’s 400-meter hurdles 10:00am
Three of the top collegiate performers of the season are entered--Miami’s duo of Ti’erra Brown(#2-56.72) and Tameka Jameson(#4-57.07), and Western Michigan’s Danielle Brown(#1-57.18.
Two local heroes are coming back for this event, courtesy of UCLA. Senior Nicole Leach(2004-2005, West Catholic,Pa) and freshman Ryann Krais(2007-2008, Methacton,Pa) were both 2-time winners of the High School 400-hurdles at Penn.
Leach, who has a best of 54.23, was the 2007 NCAA Champion. Krais, who ran 57.20 as a sophomore, has run 59.84 this year and has scored 5220 points in the heptathlon.
4-High School Girls 400-Meter Hurdles 10:20am
Nikita Tracey(1/Edwin Allen) ran 57.41 to win at the Jamaican Championships. She backed that up with a 57.79 win at the Carifta Games. Her top competition could come from the California duo of Kori Carter (6/Claremont-59.89) and Turquoise Thompson (2/Junipero Serra), who ran 57.67 to win the 2008 U.S. Junior Olympic title. Thompson was 5th at the 2007 Relays while competing for Long Beach Poly(CA).
5-8 High School Girls 4x800 Relay Heats 10:30am
The 12 fastest teams from the four heats advance to the Championship Final on Friday (Event #115-1pm). It took a quick 9:14.53 to make the final in 2008. The cutoff in past years was 9:23.03(07), 9:23.30(06), 9:25.46(05) and 9:23.86(04).
If they choose to run this event(instead of the DMR), Southern Regional(NJ), led by Jillian Smith, could challenge the Jamaican trio of Manchester, Holmwood Tech, and Edwin Allen. However, Smith suffered a hip flexor injury during a race on April 11 and her status for Penn is now questionable.
Leading teams that chose to run the Distance Medley include Shenendehowa,NY(9:09.34) and Bronxville,NY(9:12.49),
5-”Small” Schools 4x800 10:30am
Manchester(AA), which ran 8:49.01 at the Gibson Relays in February, is led by Natoya Goule, who ran 2:04.29 to win the 800 at the Jamaican Champs. Manchester also ran 8:50.17 at the Milo Western Relays.
Other potential finalists include St.John Villa,NY(AB-9:04.80i), and Voorhees,NJ(AC-9:19.47.
6-”Small” Schools 4x800 10:40am
Jamaica’s Holmwood Tech(BA), the defending champions, ran 8:51.91 behind Manchester at the Gibson Relays in February. Keno Heaven is the only returnee from last year’s winning lineup, but she should get strong support from 14-year old Chris-Ann Gordon, who won the Jamaica Champs Class 3 400 in 52.68, and the 800 in 2:13.45.
Edwin Allen(BB) ran 8:54.73 behind Manchester and Holmwood at the Western Relays, which also took place in February.
Garden City,NY(BC-9:20.87) and Cornwall,NY(BD-9:23.33) are potential finalists.
7-”Large” Schools 4x800 10:50am
Eleanor Roosevelt(CF), the 2007 Champions, set a U.S. High School Record of 8:43.12 in a runnerup effort last year, but they don’t seem to be as strong this year. They can never be counted out, though, and, led by Amirah Johnson, who split 2:087 last year, could still make the final.
Other potential finalists include: Lincoln-Sudbury,MA(CA), which ran 9:07.61 indoors, Ocean Lakes,VA(CB-9:21.00), and Kellenberg Memorial,NY(CC-9:21.54).
8-”Large” Schools 4x800 11:00am
Potential finalists include: Downington East,PA(DA-9:24.90, Boys&Girls,NY(DB-9:20.33, Lenape,NJ(DC-9:23.71, and North Penn,PA(DD-9:25.14.
9&10-High School Girls 4x100 Heats 11:10am
The eight fastest teams from the “small” and “large” school heats advance to the Championship Final on Friday(Event #130- 2:42pm). Heats are run in alphabetical order (by school).
It took 47.23(08), 47.64(07), 47.48(2006), 47.76(2005-cool), and 47.30(2004) to make it into the final the last five years.
This event starts off with a bang, with 2-time defending champion Edwin Allen(AB) running in the first heat. Allen ran 45.39 at the Gibson Relays without the injured Kaycea Jones, who ran on the last two winning teams at Penn. It is not known at this time if Jones will be running at Penn.
Beating EA at the Jamaican Champs was Holmwood Tech(EL), which ran 45.02, 45.04, and 46.35 in three separate sections with 12 different athletes!
Other Jamaican teams with a good chance to make the final include: Vere Tech(MO-45.46), Manchester(GI-46.60), St.Jago(KN-46.62, and St.Andrew(WT-47.02)
Ready to challenge the Jamaicans is Roosevelt(WP), which set an Eastern Record of 45.38 at the Florida Relays. The team from Greenbelt,MD, was 6th in last year’s Final.
Other potential U.S. finalists: Junipero Serra,CA(FE-46.31), Rancho Verde,CA(WG-46.47), and Elizabeth Seton,MD(LF-47.03). Teams that ran well in the 4x200 indoors--Oxon Hill,MD(VL-1:39.28), Cardozo,NY(PL-1:40.38)
12-College Women 4x100 Heats 1:00pm
The 8 fastest teams advance to the Championship Final on Friday (Event #116-1:10pm). It took 44.66(08), 45.42(07), 45.44(06), 45.46(05), and 45.32(04) to qualify for the final the last five years.
LEADING TEAMS
42.91 AB Texas A&M--Porscha Lucas, Allison George, and Gabby Mayo are back from the team that lost a heartbreaker to LSU last year. (42.59-42.61)
43.39 AA LSU--Only Samantha Henry returns from the team that set a Relays Record of 42.59 last year
43.62 AC Florida State
44.10 AD Auburn
44.26 AE Oklahoma
44.39 AM Miami
44.40 AN TCU
44.44 AF Houston
44.51 AO UTech-JAM
44.92 AG Bethune-Cookman
45.01 AU Texas Tech
45.14
45.16 AH Hampton
45.22 AZ Central Florida
45.30 AI Florida
45.43 AJ North Carolina
45.50 AK Connecticut
45.60 AP Coastal Carolina
45.69 AS Western Kentucky
45.70 AL South Carolina
13-57/High School Girls 4x400 Heats 1:25pm
The 8 fastest teams advance to the Championship Final on Friday (Event #162-6:15pm). It took an amazing 3:42.77 to qualify for the final in 2008, and 3:51.35(07), 3:50.80(06), 3:53.90(05), and 3:49.51(04) the previous four years.
Races With leading Teams/Individuals (and 2009 bests--mostly indoors)
13-HSG 4x400 Relay 1:25pm
St.Jago(G) ran 3:49.44 at the Jamaica Champs, but might be running with a weaker lineup here.
18-HSG 4x400 Relay 1:50pm
Hopewell Valley,NJ(G-3:56.69)
33-HSG 4x400 Relay 3:05pm
Booker T. Washington,VA(E-3:51.44)
37-HSG 4x400 Relay 3:25pm
Bishop McNamara,PA(I-3:54.73)
39-HSG 4x400 Relay 3:35pm
Southern Regional,NJ(F-3:55.69). Genamarie McCant of Robinson,VA(E) led the U.S. at 500-meters indoors(1:14.49). Charlene Lipsey of Hempstead(I) was one of the best in the U.S. indoors in everything from the 600 to the mile. She is expected to be one of the contenders in the Penn mile later in the day.
41-HSG 4x400 Relay 3:45pm
Brentwood(A-3:56.92); Nijgia Snapp of Oak Crest(I) ran 55.19 for 400-meters indoors.
43-HSG 4x400 Relay 3:55pm
Manchester(E) ran 3:36.54 at the Jamaica Champs. Cardozo,NY(L) ran 3:45.36 indoors and 3:45.32 this past weekend. Cardozo’s Ahtyana Johnson(55.35) and Chamique Francis(55.48) ran under 56-seconds indoors. Others: Mt.Vernon,NY(F-3:52.86), Medgar Evers,NY(M-3:53.14), Columbia,NJ(A-3:53.99).
44-HSG 4x400 Relay 4:00pm
Defending champ Roosevelt,MD(G) ran 3:40.68 at Arcadia, while Junipero Serra,CA(M) ran 3:45.01 at the Texas Relays. Oxon Hill,MD(E) ran 3:51.05 indoors. Deseree King of Oxon Hill,MD(E) ran 1:15.10 for 500-meters indoors.
45-HSG 4x400 Relay 4:05pm
Jamaica’s Edwin Allen(A-3:37.24) and Vere Tech(G-3:39.60) have both run under 3:40 this year. Also-Bethel,VA(B-3:48.91. Xauddina Whittington of Catonsville,MD(I) ran 55.83 indoors. Allen’s Nikita Tracey was the favorite in the 400-hurdles, the first event of the day.
46-HSG 4x400 Relay 4:10pm
This race is also loaded: Holmwood(D) ran a blazing 3:34.35 at the Jamaican Champs. They’ll go against Herbert Morrison(L-3:46.57), Wolmers(K-3:47.63), Newburgh,NY(F-3:50.81), Elizabeth Seton,MD(G-3:51.94), and Rancho Verde,CA(M-3:53.74.
51-HSG 4x400 Relay-Suburban “A” 4:35pm
Penn Wood,PA(J-3:53.87) is led by Brittany Wallace(55.81).
53-HSG 4x400 Relay Suburban Nat’l “A” 3:55pm
Abington,PA(A-3:53.33.
56-HSG 4x400 Relay-South Jersey Small-5:00pm
Camden,NJ(B-3:54.38)
57-HSG 4x400 Relay-South Jersey Large 5:05pm
Michelle Brown of Seneca,NJ(S) ran 55.57 indoors
60-College Women’s Distance Medley 5:25pm
Tennessee(AA). with Sarah Bowman on the anchor, set a World Record of 10:50.98 at this year’s NCAA Indoor Championships and rates as the favorite here. Bowman led the Lady Vols to victory in this event in 2007, but had to settle for 2nd place last year when she was passed by Michigan’s Nicole Edwards in the final 100-meters.
Bowman is expected to get support from the same trio that ran the first three legs at the NCs--Phoebe Wright, Brittany Jones, and freshman Chanelle Price.
The main challengers to Tennessee include North Carolina(AB-10:56.19), with the always dangerous Brie Felnagle on the anchor, Georgetown(AC-11:02.67), and Villanova(AD). Don’t know the reason, but Felnagle didn’t run at this past weekend’s ACC Championships.
62-College Women’s 4x400 Relay-Heats 5:50pm
The 8 fastest teams from events 62-65 advance to the Championship Final on Saturday (Event #256-5:10pm).
It took 3:35.38(08), 3:41.24(07-9 teams), 3:35.98(06), 3:42.40(05-cool), and 3:37.17(04) to qualify for the final the last five years.
LEADING TEAMS
(i-indoor time)
3:31.81 AL LSU-Didn’t run well indoors, but has the fastest time in the country so far this year. Philly’s own LaTavia Thomas is the only holdover from last year’s runnerup team.
3:33.01 AA TCU--3rd at the Texas Relays
3:33.38 AB UTech/JAM
3:33.50i AH South Carolina--returns Brandi Cross, Porche Byrd, and Gabby Glenn from last year’s 3rd-place team
3:34.48 AE Texas A&M--5th last year
3:34.64i AM Penn State--defending champs lost anchor Shana Cox to graduation, but are still formidable.
3:34.75 AI Florida State
3:35.38i AP Western Kentucky
3:35.50i AC Auburn
3:36.01 AZ North Carolina
3:36.27 AD Seton Hall--The Hall returns Alex McCoy, Jeneille Brathwaite, and Jernail Hayes from last year’s 4th-place team and adds Big East 800 champ Clarisse Moh
3:36.67 AG Miami
3:37.34 AJ Western Michigan
3:37.44 AK Houston
3:37.44 AF Virginia Tech
NT AO G.C.Foster/JAM-Schillonie Calvert and Anastacia Leroy ran on the Holmwood Tech team that won the H.S. Girls 4x400 in 2006.
Watch out for Hampton’s(BB) Francena McCorory, the 2009 NCAA Indoor Champion in the 400-meters, Leslie Cole(BD-Oklahoma), who has run 52.28 this spring, and Alexandria Spruiel(BL-North Carolina A&T), who has best of 52.98.
63-Heptagonal Women’s 4x400 Relay-6:40pm
Cornell(C), the winner of this event in 2006 and 2007, is the reigning Heps indoor champion.
66-High School Girls Distance Medley 6:55pm
The early favorite was Southern Regional,NJ(A), which had the fastest indoor time in the country(11:41.12), but anchor Jillian Smith suffered a hip injury on April 11 and her status for Penn is in doubt.
Other contenders include Shenendehowa,NY(B-11:46.05), Lake Braddock,VA(C-12:01.84), Haddonfield Memorial,NJ(D-12:04.45), Bronxville,NY(E-12:05.97), and Immaculate Heart,NJ(F-12:05.98. Defender Roxbury(NJ) didn’t qualify this year.
67-High School Girls Mile 7:10pm
The #1 seed is sophomore Chelsey Sveinsson(1-Greenhill School,TX), who finished 3rd here last year with a time of 4:43.51(#4-AT Penn).
Charlene Lipsey(2-Hempstead,NY led U.S. preps indoors in the 600(1:29.85) and was #2 in the 800(2:07.77). Oh yeah, she also ran 4:55.82 in the mile and has the potential to run much faster.
Jackie Gamboli (3-North Rockland,NY) ran 4:34.38 for 1500-meters indoors.
Defender Stephanie Morgan, who set a Relays record of 4:41.22 in 2008 will run the 3000 this year.
68-High School Girls 3000m 7:15pm
As mentioned in the mile preview, senior Stephanie Morgan(7-Barnesville,OH) is moving up to the 3000 this year. She could become the first female prep to win both the mile and 3000 at Penn. Matthew Centrowitz (Broadneck,MD), now running for Oregon, won the Boys 3000 in 2006 and the mile in 2007.
Other contenders include Emily Lipari(5-Roslyn,NY) who led U.S. preps indoors in the mile(4:47.44), Emily Jones(3-Bromfield School,MA), who finished 2nd in this race last year, Melanie Thompson(8-Voorhees,NJ) last year’s 3rd-place who ran 4:48.42 for the mile this past indoor season, and Shelby Greany(2-Suffern,NY), who was 5th a year ago.
THURSDAY NIGHT RACES--2009 Qualifying Standards
MEN IC4A NCAA I(auto/Prov.) NCAA II(Auto/Prov.) NCAA (II(Auto/Prov.) U.S. Championships World Champ.A/B Steeplechase 9:15.00 9:07.00 9:09.00/9:26.00 9:08.00/9:23.00 8:45.50 8:23.00/8:33.50 5000 14:34.00 14:12.00 14:10.00/14:45.00 14:28.00/14:48.00 13:52.00 13:20.00/13:29.00 10,000 31:08.00 28:45.00/29:30.00 29:45.00/31:00.00 30:20.00/31:10.00 29:01.00 27:47.00/28:12.00 WOMEN ECAC NCAA I NCAA II(Auto/Prov.) NCAA III(Auto/Prov.) U.S. Champ.(Auto/Prov.) World Champ.(A/B) 3000 9:56.24 x x x x x Steeplechase 10:55.04 10:50.25 10:55.00/11:20.00 10:44.00/11:13.00 10:12.00/10:17.00 9:40..00/9:48.00 5000 17:26.14 16:52.00 17:05.00/17:35.00 16:55.00/17:35.00 15:50.00/15:55.00 15:10.00/15:25.00 10,000 37:40.00 33:30.00/35:00.00 35:50.00/37.20.00 35:48.00/37:25.00 33:45.00/33:55.00 31:45.00/32:20.00
69-College Men’s Steeplechase 7:30pm
Daniel Maina(1) will try to make it five in a row for Abilene Christian. Maina won last year, while former teammate Nicodemus Naimadu was a winner the previous three years(2005-2007).
Also back is last year’s runnerup, Hamilton College’s Peter Kosgei(2), a beneficiary of John Manners’ Kenya Scholar-Athlete Project, which helps place deserving Kenyan students in U.S. colleges. Kosgei has won a total of 7 NCAA Div.III titles. In addition to being the 2-time defending champion in the steeplechase, he won his 2nd indoor mile crown earlier this year, x-country last fall, the 5000 last spring, and the indoor 800 in 2008.
Adams State’s Reuben Mwei(3) has the fastest Div.II time of the season--8:55.44
73-College Women’s Steeplechase 8:00pm
Princeton’s Megan Brandeland(1) finished 2nd last year. Penn State’s Bridget Franek(4) ran 9:53.95, the fastest collegiate time of the year, on April 10, but might run the 5000 here.
75-College Women’s 3000-meters 8:30pm
Princeton’s Liz Costello(1) is the defending champion. She could get a strong challenge from either Marie-Louise Asselin(2-West Virginia) or Lucy Van Dalen(3-Stony Brook).
76-College Women’s 5000-meters 8:40pm
Another defender for Princeton is Ashley Higginson(1), who won the Penn H.S. 3000 in 2006 and 2007. Penn State’s Bridget Franek(4) will be a contender here if she passes up the steeplechase.
78-College Men’s 5000-meters 9:20pm
Mike Crouch(1-Queens/Charlotte), the 2009 NCAA Div.II Champion in the 5000, ran a personal best of 13:46.97 last month at Stanford. He might decide to run the 10,000 at Penn.
83-Men’s College 10,000 meters 10:55pm
As noted in the 5000, Mike Crouch(1) might run this event. Slippery Rock’s Jeff Weiss(2) has finished 4th in the 10k at the last two NCAA Div.II Championships.
THURSDAY FIELD EVENTS
268-High School Girls Shot Put 11:00am
Senior Emily Vannoy(3-Gov.Thomas Johnson,MD) won last year with a toss of 48-4(#7-AT Penn). Vanessa Stewart(1-North Babylon,NY) finished 8th last year, but could be a contender off her 47-5-1/4 best this past indoor season. She just threw 46-3-1/2 this past weekend.
269-College Women’s Hammer Throw 11:00am
Georgia Tech’s Kimery Hern(1) finished 2nd last year. Clemson’s Nikola Lomnicka, a freshman from the Slovak Republic, has the best mark in the field so far this year(202-8). Connecticut frosh Victoria Flowers(7) set a High School Indoor record in the weight throw last year(62-2).
270-College Women’s Long Jump Noon
Cornell’s Jeomi Maduka(1) was the 2008 Ivy League Basketball Player of the Year in 2008, but gave up hoops this year to concentrate on winning an NCAA title. She came close at this year’s Indoor Championships, finishing 2nd in the long jump, only 1-1’4’ out of first place. She had earlier set an Eastern Collegiate Record of 21-11 3/4.
This deep field includes four other NCAA qualifiers. Florida’s Shara Proctor(2) was 6th, Oklahoma’s Ti’Anca Mock(3) 9th, Middle Tennessee’s Sarah Nambawa 10th, and Texas A&M’s Vashti Thomas 14th. Also in the field is Penn State’s Gayle Hunter, who finished 2nd in the pentathlon at the NCAA Indoor Championships.
271-High School Girls Javelin Noon
Junior Meghan Morton(4) is the top returnee from last year(3rd), but the favorite is junior Fawn (Deloma) Miller(2-Lakeview,PA), who had a best of 167-2 in 2008.
273-High School Girls Pole Vault 1:00pm
Tory Worthen(1-Council Rock,PA) finished 2nd last year. She had a best of 12-6-1/2 during the indoor season. Also back is 3rd-place finisher Chrissy Finkel(2-Montville Township,NJ). Also expected to contend for the win is Jenna Marrione(5-Warwick Valley,NY), who has a best of 12-7-1/2.
275-High School Girls Long Jump 1:45pm
Returning from last year are the top two finishers from last year, senior Tynita Butts(1-TC Williams,VA) and junior Jen Clayton(3-Suffern,NY). Butts jumped a personal best of 20-1 1/2 during the indoor season.
276-High School Girls Triple Jump 1:45pm
Ada Unachukwu(8-Marlboro,NJ) is the defending champion--she had a best of 39-5 this past indoor season. Others to watch include: 16-year old Rochelle Farquharson(4-St.Elizabeth), who jumped a personal best of 41-8 at the Jamaican Champs and was a winner at the Carifta Games, Jasia Richardson(1-J.R.Tucker,VA, 40-4 1/4), Arielle Statham(2-Paint Branch,MD, 39-10 1/4), and Chaneka Perry (3-Menchville,VA, 39-10).
277-College Women’s Javelin 2:00pm
Penn State’s Karlee McQuillen(1) was the runnerup last year. Virginia’s Meghan Briggs(3) has the best mark in the field so far this year(163-11).
280-High School Girls High Jump 2:30pm
Petagaye Reid(1-St.Elizabeth), the defending champion, jumped 5-10 to win at the Jamaican Champs and a personal best of 5-10 3/4 to win at the Carifta Games. The 2-3 finishers from last year are also back: seniors Saniel Atkinson(2-Bishop McNamara,MD) and Shauntae Boney(3-Largo,MD). Pearl Bickersteth(2-Potomac,VA), jumped 5-9 indoors.
281-College Women’s Pole Vault 3:00pm
LSU’s Katelyn Rodrigue(1) is the defending champion, but it’s her teammate Rachel Laurent, a freshman from Louisiana, who has the hot hand. Laurent finished 5th at the NCAA Indoor Championships and jumped a personal best of 14-1-1/4 to win the Texas Relays. Duke’s Amy Fryt(3) is the 2009 ECAC Indoor Champion.
Friday, April 23
85-College Men’s 400-meter hurdles 9:00am
The top three seeds met at the Florida Relays earlier this month, with Florida’s William Wynne(1-49.67), a freshman, beat South Carolina’s Johnny Dutch(2-49.79) and Albany’s Joe Greene(3-50.25). Wynne was the 2007 U.S. Junior and World Youth Champion. Greene finished 2nd at the 2007 Penn Relays, while Dutch was 5th at last year’s U.S. Olympic Trials. Wynne was the 2007 World Youth Champion.
Those three should meet in the seeded section(#3), but they have to be wary of someone who comes out of the woodwork. That’s what happened when South Carolina’s Jason Richardson thought he had won a Relays watch after running 50.54 to beat Auburn’s Rueben McCoy and Texas A&M’s Nick Robinson in last year’s “seeded” section, only to watch Turabo’s Yelson Rivas run 50.49 two races later to “steal” the win.
86-89 High School Boys 4x800 Relay Heats
The 12 fastest teams from the four heats advance to the Championship Final on Saturday (Event #246-3:50pm). It took 7:54.97(08), 8:01.69(07--weather delays), 7:58.62(06), 7:57.79(05), and 7:55.90(04) to qualify for the final the last five years.
It took 7:54.97 to earn one of the 12 slots in last year’s Championship final. No less than 17 teams have run faster than that this year and another 8 have broken 8-minutes, making this one of the deepest fields in Penn history.
Another sub-8 team, Chaminade,NY(7:53.55), is running the Distance Medley.
Unless otherwise noted [o], all times for U.S. teams are from the indoor season.
86-”Small” Schools Boys 4x800 Relay 9:20am
Manchester,JAM(AA) lost two members from last year’s winning team, but is still a force, having run 7:40.03 at the Milo Western Relays in February. Other potential finalists: Bellefield,JAM(AC-7:48.49) and Lawrenceville,NJ(AB-7:50.97).
87-”Small” Schools Boys 4x800 Relay 9:30am
Holmwood Tech,JAM(BA) ran 7:40.28 behind Manchester at the Milo Western Relays, while Morris Hills,NJ(BB) ran 7:43.91 at the Nike Nationals. Others to watch: St.Joseph-by-the-Sea,NY(BC-7:55.00, Phoenixville,PA(BD-7:59.02;
88-”Large” Schools Boys 4x800 Relay 9:40am
Nine sub-8 teams in this race, led by Buzz Male’s Albemarle,VA)CA) team that set a U.S. Indoor Record of 7:36.99 at the Nike Nationals. Others: Kingston College,JAM(CB-7:49.71, Monsignor Farrell,NY(CC-7:51.24[o]), Transit Tech,NY(CD-7:52.43), North Penn,PA(CE-7:52.23-last year’s runnerup), Iona Prep,NY(CF-7:53.48), Calabar,JAM(CG-7:55.20), Oakcrest,NJ(CH-7:57.27), Abington,PA(CI-7:57.73);
89-”Large” Schools Boys 4x800 Relay 9:50am
This race also has 9 sub-8 teams, led by Jamaica College,JAM(DA), which has run 7:41.91 this year. Others: Central Bucks South,PA(DB-7:49.01(Tom Mallon ran 1:51.79 for 800-meters indoors), Washington Township,NJ(DC-7:51.43), Fordham Prep,NY(DD-7:52.29, Warwick Valley,NY(DE-7:53.72), Half Hollow Hills West,NY(DF-7:53.20), Gonzaga,DC(DG-7:56.84[o]--Bill Ledder ran 1:52.50 indoors), Pine Bush,NY(DH-7:57.07), Bensalem,PA(DI-7:58.68).
108/109-H.S. Boys 4x100 Relay Heats 10:40am
The eight fastest teams from the “small” and “large” school heats advance to the Championship Final on Saturday(Event #227-1:40pm). Heats are run in alphabetical order (by school).
It took 42.19(08), 42.06(07), 42.29(06), 42.58(05), 42.51(04) to qualify for the final the last five years.
Jamaican teams usually take up most of the spots in the final and that trend should continue this year.
Four teams from Zimbabwe are entered:St.John’s(KA), St.George’s(JU), Prince Edward(IW), and Celebration Learning Centre(BP).
LEADING TEAMS
39.90 OF Calabar/JAM--Most U.S. college teams would be thrilled to have run 39.90 in this event. Calabar has also run 39.95 this year. Oshane Bailey and Warren Weir return from last year’s winning team and the team adds Ramone McKenzie, who has run 10.35 and 20.60 this year.
40.38 JV St.Jago/JAM--Finished 2nd to Calabar at the Jamaican Champs.
40.69 SP Kingston College/JAM
40.70 WP St.George’s/JAM
41.16 ZH Wolmer’s Boys/JAM
41.37 GP Herbert Morrison/JAM
41.40 BH Camperdown/JAM
41.49 GB Manchester/JAM
41.50 JT St.Elizabeth Tech/JAM
41.55 SD Jamaica College/JAM
OTHERS TO WATCH FOR
NT EE Jack Hayward/BAH--Perneko Murry and Dennis Bain return from last year’s 6th-place team.
41.54 WZ Sheepshead Bay,NY--ran their 41.54 at the Arcadia Inv.
NT GI Medgar Evers,NY--Ran 1:28.51 in the 4x200 indoors
NT OA Boys&Girls,NY--Ran 1:29.01 in the 4x200 indoors
NT YY Westlake,MD--the top U.S. team in last year’s final(4th), but only Devon Smith returns from that team.
NT NE Altoona Area,PA--1:29.27 for 4x200
NT YV Western Branch,VA--1:29.27 for 4x200
112 Masters Men’s 4x100 Relay (50+) 12:30pm
The Relays wouldn’t be the same without the presence of 58-year old Bill Collins who is one of the best Masters sprinters in the world. He will run for the Houston Elite TC(C). Collins first ran at Penn during his high school days at Mt.Vernon H.S. in the late 1960s. Collins was an All-American at TCU and ran the lead-off leg on the U.S. team that set a world record in the 4x100 relay at the 1977 World Cup in Dusseldorf, Germany.
114 College Men’s 4x100 relay Heats 12:35pm
The 8 fastest teams advance to the Championship Final on Saturday (Event #225-1:30pm). It took a quick 40.16 to qualify last year, and 40.69(07), 40.73(06), 40.65(05), and 40.38(04) the previous four years.
38,75 AB Florida State--won the ACC title in 39.55 without Michael Ray Garvin.
38.85 AE Texas A&M--3rd last year
39.07 AA LSU--the 4-time defending champions could become the first school in Penn history to win this event five times in a row. Returning are Gabriel Mvumvure and Trindon Holliday, who ran a come-from-behind anchor for last year’s winners.
39.22 AC Florida--4th in 2008
39.42 AD Clemson
39.52 AK Mississippi State
39.73 AM South Carolina
39.80 AN Nebraska
NT AG UTech/JAM--Andre Wellington and Jacques Harvey return from last year’s 5th-place team and they will be joined by Winston Barnes, who has run 10.16 for 100-meters this year.
40.02 AL TCU
40.03 AF Kentucky
40.04 AH Arkansas
40.25 AI St.Augustine’s--perennial Div.II power. Dennis Boone, Ramon Gittens, and Josh Scott return from the team that finished 6th in last year’s Final.
40.36 AR Auburn
40.38 AO Bethune Cookman
40.43 AJ Tennessee
115 H.S. Girls 4x800 Championship 1:00pm
See events 5-8
It will be hard to match the excitement of last year’s race, when Holmwood Tech(8:41.92) and Eleanor Roosevelt,MD(8:43.12--U.S. Record) ran the 2nd and 3rd fastest times ever at Penn.
Holmwood, which has won this event seven times since 1998, is strong again this year, but they were beaten at the Gibson Relays in February by Manchester, which has never won this event at Penn.
Manchester’s Natoya Goule ran 2:04.29 to win the 800 at the Jamaican Champs and could break into top tier of all-time splits at Penn:
2:03.2--Inez Turner (Vere Tech/JAM) 1991
2:04.7--Claudine Williams (Vere Tech/JAM) 1992
2:07.5--Tanya Jarrett (Manchester/JAM) 1994
2:07.9--Claudine Williams (Vere Tech/JAM) 1994
116 College Women 4x100 Championship 1:10pm
See event 12
Pat Henry was the head coach at LSU when the Tigers won most of their 12 titles in this event, and this year could see him win his first for Texas A&M. The Aggies beat LSU at the Texas Relays, 42.97-43.10.
LSU is the 2-time defending champion and has won this event 12 times since 1985.
124 College Women 4x1500 Championship 1:30pm
Tennessee(A) finished 2nd last year and will again have Sarah Bowman, the 2009 NCAA Indoor mile champion, on the anchor leg. The Lady Vols will have a tough time against a loaded team from the University of Washington.
Coach Greg Metcalf is bringing a lineup of Katie Follett(4:15.78), Kailey Campbell(4:22.38), Mel Lawrence,(4:24.10), and Christine Babcock(4:16.42). Their PRs add up to 17:18.88, a time that would place them 4th on the All-Time Penn list, Follett, Lawrence, and Babcock were members of the team that won the NCAA X-Country title last year.
Villanova(C) and Georgetown(D) finished 3-4 last year and will again have strong lineups.
125 College Men 4x200 Relay Heats 1:50pm
The 8 fastest teams advance to the Championship Final on Saturday (Event #235-2:40pm). It took 1:24.93(08), 1:24.45(07), 1:24.45(06), 1:25.54(05), and 1:24.69(04) to qualify for the final the last five years.
LEADING TEAMS
1:21.68 AB Florida--winner of this event in 1999 and 2005
1:22.06 AE Texas A&M
1:22.29 AH South Carolina.--6th in 2008
1:22.71 AL St.Augustine’s.--4th last year
NT AC Clemson--has run 39.42 in the 4x100 this year.
1:23.28 AG Mississippi State--winner in 2004, 3rd in 2008
NT AJ U-Tech/Jamaica--winner in 2003(with Asafa Powell on the anchor)
1:23.47 AF Arkansas--winner in 1985
1:23.66 AK TCU--6-time winners of this event
1:23,83 AA Tennessee--Defending champs have won this event six times
1:23.83 AT North Carolina A&T
1:23.97 AD Kentucky
1:25.21 AI Florida State--Winners in 2007, 2nd last year
NT AX Abilene Christian--returns 3 from last year’s team that was disqualified in the final.
126 College Women 4x200 Relay Heats 2:10pm
The 8 fastest teams advance to the Championship Final on Saturday (Event #233-2:35pm). It took 1:35.77(08), 1:36.75(07), 1:35.20(06), 1:38.74(05-cool), and 1:34.88(04) to qualify for the final the last five years.
LEADING TEAMS
1:32.31 AA Texas A&M--defending champions
1:33.27 AB LSU--2nd last year, 11-time winner here
1:33.50 AC Oklahoma
1:33.97 AF South Carolina--3-time winner of this event, 5th last year
1:35.99 AI Hampton
Other contenders
AD Miami
AE UTech/JAM
AG Florida State
AH Houston
AJ TCU
AK Auburn
AL Virginia Tech
AM Connecticut--6th last year
AR Tennessee--4th last year
AT Bethune-Cookman
130 H.S. Girls 4x100 Championships 2:42pm
See Events 9&10
Edwin Allen is looking for its 3rd win a row, but they should be up against a powerful Holmwood Tech team that has already run 45.02 this season. Holmwood won this event in 2001 and 2006.
Eleanor Roosevelt(MD), which set an Eastern H.S. Record of 45.38 earlier this season, could become the first school from the East to win this event since Willingboro(NJ) won in 1981. Carol Lewis, who was a member of that team, also won the long jump that year. She will be conducting the on-field interviews for ESPN at this year’s Relays.
133 College Men Shuttle Hurdles (4x120y) 2:55pm
Florida(A), which has run 55.33 this year (for the slightly shorter 4x110m race), returns Kallinka Pitt, Jarius Cooper, and Dennis Martin(13.91) from last year’s winning team and adds freshman William Wynne(13.92), who was favored to win the 400-meter hurdles here earlier in the day.
Other contenders include South Carolina(B), which is led by Johnny Dutch and Jason Richardson, Nebraska(C), which is bringing a strong lineup of(with 2009 bests) Lehann Fourie(13.76), Kirk Thornton(13.88, Tyrell Ross(14.09), and Eric Lund(14.18), Texas Tech(D), which is led by Omo Osaghee, the fastest collegian in the U.S. this year(he’s run 13.51 and a wind-aided 13.42), Albany(E-4th last year), and Hampton(F-2nd last year.)
135 College Women Shuttle Hurdles (4x100m) 3:10pm
Virginia Tech(A), which has never won a Championship relay at Penn, is led by juniors Krist Castlin and Queen Harrison, a 2008 U.S. Olympian in the 400-meter hurdles. Central Florida(C) has run 55.19 this season.
Others to watch: Nebraska(B), North Carolina(D), Seton Hall(E), Virginia(F), and Western Michigan(F-57.29).
LSU, which set a Relays and Collegiate Record of 52.77 in 2008, didn’t enter a team this year. Runnerup Texas A&M(52.96), which was also under the previous Relays Record
136 College Men’s 110-meter Hurdles Heats 3:30pm
First two from each of three heats, plus the next 3 fastest finishers(9 in all) advance to Saturday’s final (event #240-3:05pm).
LEADING ENTRANTS (With 2009 bests)
1 Jason Richardson Sr South Carolina NT
winner here in 2006 and 2008, but he was bothered by a sore left hamstring during the indoor season and hasn’t competed outdoors yet.
3 Omo Osaghae Jr Texas Tech 13.51(13.42w)
Fastest time by a collegian this year...Runnerup at the NCAA Indoor Championships...
2 Ronnie Ash So Bethune-Cookman 13.58
3rd last year...2009 NCAA Indoor Champion
6 Mikel Thomas Sr Kentucky 13.62-’08
Competed for Trinidad & Tobago in Beijing
10 Leehan Fourie So Nebraska 13.76
7 Kirk Thornton Sr Nebraska 13.88
4th at the NCAA Indoor Championships
11 De’Lon Isom Jr Texas A&M 13.89(13.71w)
4 Johnny Dutch So South Carolina 13.95
3rd at the NCAA Indoor Championships
5 Josh Hembrough So Purdue 14.03w
8th at the NCAA Indoor Championships
8 Kallinka Pitt Sr Florida 13.97
5th at Penn last year
9 Charlton Rolle So Tennessee 14.07
12 Barrett Nugent Fr LSU 14.13(13.84w)
13 Dennis Martin Sr Florida 14.13(13.98w) 6th last year, 7th at the NCAA Indoor Championships
14 Booker Nunley Fr South Carolina 14.13(13.90w)
2008 U.S. Junior Champion, silver medalist at the 2008 World Junior Championships
15 Elliott O’Hare Sr Texas 14.19(13.96w)
137 College Women’s 100m Hurdles Heats 3:40pm
First two from each of three heats, plus the next 3 fastest finishers(9 in all) advance to Saturday’s final (event #238-2:55pm).
1 Celriece Law Sr Tennessee 13.23
3rd last year, runnerup at this year’s Indoor NCs
2 Tenaya Jones So LSU 13.28
6 Shermaine Williams So Johnson C.Smith 13.29(13.21w)
2009 NCAA Div.II Indoor Champion
3 Gabby Mayo So Texas A&M 13.37
10 Vashti Thomas Fr Texas A&M 13.38(13.05w)
2nd at the 2008 U.S. Junior Championships
12 Seun Adigun Sr Houston 13.39
4 Tiki James Jr Central Florida 13.43w
5th at the NCAA Indoor Championships
7 Caroline Vaughn Jr Wake Forest 13.45
8 Latoya Heath Jr Oklahoma 13.56
13 Marrissa Harris Sr Mississippi State 13.58(13.68w)
5 Teona Rodgers So Florida State 13.94(13.01w)
9 Janica Austin So South Carolina 13.61
11 Kishelle Paul Sr TCU 13.63
14 Rosemarie Carty Fr Johnson C.Smith 13.66(13.44w)
15 Gayle Hunter Sr Penn State 13.74
multi-talented senior was 2nd in the pentathlon at the NCAA Indoor Championships
141 Masters Men’s 100 meters 55 and Older 3:09pm
The big news is that Bill Collins is NOT running in this event this year.
147 College Men’s 100-Meters Heats 3:25pm
First two from each of three heats, plus the next 3 fastest finishers(9 in all) advance to Saturday’s final (event #245-3:30pm).
LEADING ENTRANTS (With 2009 bests)
1 Gerald Phiri So Texas A&M 10.44(10.21w)
defending champion...6th in the 60 at this year’s NCAA Indoor Championships
2 Trindon Holliday Jr LSU 10.12
has the fastest time by a collegian this year--10.12...runnerup at this year’s NCAA Indoor Championships
Was the leading kick returner for LSU this past season...scored a touchdown on a 92-yard punt return...had a 98-yard kick-off return for a touchdown in 2007
3 Jeff Demps Fr Florida 10.41
Freshman set the U.S. high school and World Junior Record of 10.01 at last year’s Olympic Trials
Splits his time between track and football practice--rushed for 605 yards this past fall. Coming back from groin surgery
5 Michael Ray Garvin Sr Florida State 10.19
Skipped the ACC meet, but he’s ready for Penn
15 Justyn Warnr Sr TCU 10.23-’08
6 Marcus Rowland Fr Auburn 10.27
4 J-Mee Samuels Jr Arkansas 10.35
13 A’Tolani Akinkoutu Jr North Carolina St. 10.43
12 Jonathan Hancock Jr South Carolina 10.44(10.37w)
8 Jeremy Hall Jr Florida 10.45(10.29w)
7 Terrell Wilks So Florida 10.49(10.23w)
3rd at the NCAA Indoor Championships
9 Kimmari Roach UTech/JAM 10.50(10.19w)
14 Gabriel Mvumvure So LSU 10.51(10.42w)
11 Adam Harris Sr Michigan 10.56(10.32w)
4th at the NCAA Indoor Championships
10 Mike LeBlanc Sr Syracuse 10.60
148 College Women’s 100-Meters Heats 3:35pm
First two from each of three heats, plus the next 3 fastest finishers(9 in all) advance to Saturday’s final (event #243-2:20pm).
LEADING ENTRANTS (With 2009 bests)
1 Kya Brookins So So. Carolina 11.52(11.30w)
2009 NCAA Indoor Champion--60 meters
2 Murielle Ahoure Sr Miami 11.34
2009 NCAA Indoor Champion--200 meters
3 Samantha Henry Jr LSU 11.19
7th in the 60 at the NCAA Indoor Championships
6 Kenyanna Wilson So LSU 11.30
11 Shayla Mahan So So.Carolina 11.31
7 Joanna Atkins So Auburn 11.37
5 Trisha-Ann Hawthorne Connecticut 11.44-’08
8 Scotteisha Miller So Oklahoma 11.47
13 Dominique Duncan Fr Texas A&M 11.50
4 Nickesha Anderson Sr Kansas 11.53w
9 Shillonie Calvert G.C.Foster/JAM 11.57w
12 Barbara Pierre Jr St.Augustine’s 11.60(11.58w)
10 Lynne Lane Jr Tennessee 11.62(11.28w)
14 Shaquela Williams Jr Auburn 11.63
15 Nicole Marcus Jr Florida State 11.67
145 College Men’s Distance Medley Champ. 3:50pm
The “signature event” of the Relays (at least some of us think so).
The Leo Manzano era is over at Texas (he anchored his team to three consecutive wins in this event from 2006-2008), but the Longhorns(A) should still be competitive this year with a lineup of Jacob Hernandez, the 2009 NCAA Indoor Champion at 800-meters, Danzell Fortson, who split 45.6 on last year’s winning team, Tevan Everett(1:47.82), and Jake Morse, who ran a personal best of 4:01.38 for the mile at the Texas Relays.
Hernandez ran the 800 leg on the last two winning teams, but will probably handle the opening 1200 leg this year--he split 2:54.05 at this year’s NCAA Indoor Championships (Texas finished 4th). Fortson(1:50.52) and Everett(46.92) ran the and 800 and legs, respectively, at the Indoor NCs.
Speaking of eras, there is new one at Arkansas(B) now that coach John McDonnell has retired. Under his guidance, the Razorbacks won this event 15 times from 1983-2004 and could win this year for new coach Chris Bucknam. Bucknam always took his previous team, Northern Iowa, to the Drake Relays, so this will be his personal debut at Penn.
Dorian Ulrey, who came to Arkansas along with Bucknam from Northern Iowa, anchored Arkansas to a 2nd place finish at the NCAA Indoor Championships, ahead of all of the top seeded teams expected to run at Penn. Ulrey ran 3:57.60 for the mile indoors.
Other contenders include: Georgetown(AC), which will be running without Andrew Bumbalough, who is apparently redshirting, Penn State(AD), Villanova(AE), and Providence(AF), with their two 3:57 milers, David McCarthy and Hayden McLaren.
151 Masters Mixed 4x400 Relay 50+ 4:30pm
58-year old Bill Collins will run for the Houston Elite T.C.(AA)
152 College Men’s 4x400 Relay Heats 4:35pm
The 8 fastest teams advance to the Championship Final on Saturday (Event #258-5:25pm).
It took 3:07.17(08), 3:10.51(07), 3:08.08(06), 3:10.91(05-cool), and 3:08.61(04) to qualify for the final the last five years.
Six of the top seven teams from this year’s NCAA Indoor Championships are entered.
LEADING TEAMS
3:02.84 AD Florida--3rd at the NCAA Indoor Championships. Calvin Smith(45.32) and freshman Christian Taylor(45.34), the 2009 NCAA Indoor Champion in the triple jump(!), have the two fastest collegiate times of the year in the 400-meters,
3:04.02 AA Florida State--2nd at the NCAA Indoor Championships
3:04.53 AC South Carolina--4th Indoor NCs
3:05.77 AB Kentucky
3:05.95 AE St.Augustine’s--Antonio Abney, Randy Curry, and Josh Scott return from last year’s 3rd-place team
3:05.97 AJ LSU--2nd last year, winners in 2006 and 2007, 6th Indoor NCs
3:05.98 AI Wake Forest--Michael Bingham ran 45.32 to win the ACC 400 title past weekend.
3:06.16 AF TCU--returns Dell Guy, Clemore Henry, and Matt Love from last year’s winning team
3:06.30 AH Texas Tech--7th Indoor NCs
3:06.40 AN Texas A&M--6th last year, 5th Indoor NCs
3:07.51 AP Delaware State
3:07.70 AO Nebraska
3:08.69 AT Texas
3:08.86 AY Albany
3:09.05 AZ Auburn--7th last year
3:09.15 AS UTech/JAM
3:09.32 BJ Virginia
3:09.36 AX Michigan--5th last year
3:09.37 AU Tennessee
Individuals to look for: Allodin Fothergill (BE-Maryland-Eastern Shore), Joel Redhead (CM-Bethune-Cookman);, and Cazal Arnett(CR-Binghamton), the 2009 IC4A Indoor Champion in the 400(46.34).
153 College Men’s 4x400 Relay Heps 5:15pm
Cornell(B), is favored to win this race for the 3rd year in a row.
159 H.S. Boys Distance Medley Champ. 5:45pm
The big news here is that Robby Andrews, who set national indoor records in the 800(1:49.21) and 1000(2:22.28) meters this year, had decided not to run the mile, where he would have been the favorite(he was 2nd last year). Instead, he will run the anchor leg for Manalapan,NJ(S).
The leading contenders (with their indoor best): West Windsor-Plainsboro,NJ(A-10:07.21), Danbury,CT(B-10:14.15), Upper Dublin,PA(C-10:14.39), and Shenendehowa,NY(D-10:14.44).
Albemarle,VA, which ran 10:02.13 indoors, is concentrating on the 4x800.
Andrews could be trailing when he gets the stick, so it will be interesting to see how fast he can run on the anchor.
LEADING PENN SPLITS(1600m)
3:59.9 Alan Webb South Lakes,VA 2000
4:02.9 Gareth Turnbull St.Malachy’s, Belfast-Ireland
4:03.0’ Marty Liquori Essex Catholic,NJ 1967
4:04.1 Kevin Byrne Paramus Catholic,NJ 1977
4:04.2 Craig Forys Colts Neck,NJ 2007
160 High School Boys Mile 6:00pm
International preps lead the way here.
Gavyn Nero of Trinidad & Tobago is the top returnee from last year’s race(he was 4th) and recently ran 3:47.56 to win the 1500 meters at the Carifta Games (roughly worth a 4:05 mile). He also won the Carifta 800 in 1:51.75.
Canada’s Jeremy Rae(1) ran 4:10.09 to win the mile at this year’s National Scholastics in March. Too bad Robby Andrews opted out of this race!(see Distance Medley).
Other leading contenders in this deep field include Bobby Peavey(1-Kellam,VA/4:10c), Brett Johnson (4-Ocean City,NJ/4:12.49), Omar Abdi(5-Charlestown,MA/4:14.12), who was a distant 15th last year, Chris Carrington(6-North Rockland,NY/4:14.55), Mark Feigen(7-East Greenwich,RI/4:14.68) and Marco Bertolotti(8-Paul D.Schreiber-Port Washington,NY/ 4:15.14).
161 High School Boys 3000 meters 6:05pm
The favorite is 19-year old Solomon Haile(1-Sherwood,Md), who was 2nd a year ago. Haile was a double winner at the National Scholastics at NY’s Armory last month, taking the 2-mile(9:02.67) and 5000-meters (14:22.88).
Others to watch (with indoor 2-mile times) include: Sean Pohorence(4-Morris Hills,NJ/9:07.71), Nick Ross (2-East Greenwich,RI/9:11.16), Ben Furcht(3-Lower Merion,Pa) 9:11.54), and Thomas Porter(5-Mountain View,VA/9:12c)
162 H.S. Girls 4x400 Relay Championship 6:15pm
See events 13-57
Roosevelt,MD is looking for its 3rd win in a row here, but they’ll have to get by their arch-rival, Jamaica’s Holmwood Tech. Roosevelt set Eastern Records of 3:38.40 and 3:37.16 in last year’s heat and final and improved to 3:37.02 later in the season.
163-College Women Sprint Medley Champ. 6:20pm
Junior LaTavia Thomas, who starred at Philadelphia’s West Catholic H.S., will be looking to anchor LSU(AA) to victory for the 3rd year in a row. Samantha Henry, who will handle one of the 200 legs, has also been on the last two winning teams.
Thomas could be battling another former Pennsylvania star for the win. Tennessee(AB) is scheduled to use freshman Chanelle Price, the 2nd fastest prep ever at 800-meters (2:01.61), who attended Easton Area H.S.
The only other team to win this event three years in a row was Arizona State(1993-1995).
164 College Men Sprint Medley Champ. 6:45pm
LSU(AA) won both sprint medleys in 2008 and could do the same again this year. Richard Jones, expected to run the anchor 800 for LSU, has run 1:48.85 this spring. Other contenders include Arkansas(AB), Florida(AC,) and Tennessee(AD).
Newcomer Washington, with Jordan Boase(44.82PR) and Austin Abbott(1:48.14PR) handling the last two legs, is a serious threat.
FRIDAY FIELD EVENTS
286 High School Girls Discus 9:00am
Aslynn Halvorson(1-Butler,NC) was 2nd last year and has a best of 157-3 this year. Vanessa Levy(2-Edwin Allen) threw 142-9 to win at the Jamaican Championships.
290 College Women’s Triple Jump 10:00am
Florida State sophomore Kim Williams(1) is looking for her 5th straight win at Penn. The 2009 NCAA Indoor Champion was a 3-time H.S. champion at Penn while at Vere Tech(JAM) before winning her first college title last year. She had a best of 46-1/2 this past indoor season. The Relays Record of 45-10 1/2 was set by Pitt’s Trecia Smith in 1997.
Four other top-9 finishers from the Indoor NCs are entered: Middle Tennessee’s Sarah Nambawa 2, 2nd), Texas A&M’s Yasmine Regis(3, 4th), Cornell’s Jemoi Maduka(4, 6th), and Florida’s Shara Proctor(5, 9th).
291 College Men’s Shot Put 10:30am
Georgia Tech’s Steve Marcelle(1) is the defending champion. He just won the ACC title this past weekend and had a best of 63-5 this past indoor season.
The favorite is Manhattan’s Milan Jotanovic(2), who threw a lifetime best of 65-6 1/4 in March. That’s the best mark by a collegian this season.
294 College Women’s Discus 11:00am
Virginia’s Billie-Jo Grant(7) has the best mark of the season of those entered(167-8)
297 College Men’s Discus 12:15pm
Virginia’s Yemi Aynei,(1) is the defending champion and won the ACC title this past weekend. He has a season best of 197-2.
Liberty freshman John Talbert has thrown 191-9 this year.
299 College Women’s High Jump 1:45pm
Auburn’s Raevan Harris(1) had a best of 6-2 1/4 indoors. Connecticut’s Carin Knight and North Carolina’s Patience Coleman tied for 2nd at Penn last year.
300 College Men’s Long Jump 2:00pm
Joe Kindred, the 2009 NCAA Div.II Indoor Champion, is the defending Relays champion and had a best of 25-6 indoors. He’s also the defending Relays Champion in the High Jump.
He’ll have a time repeating, since the field also includes Nebraska’s Nicholas Gordon, who jumped a lifetime best of 26-4 1/4 to win this year’s NCAA Div.I title.
301 High School Boys Javelin 2:00pm
Senior Justin Shirk (1-Central Dauphin,Pa) was 3rd in 2008 and had a best of 221-3 last year.
302 High School Shot Put 2:30pm
Nick Vena(1-Morristown,NJ) won last year as a freshman and is favored to repeat this year. He got over 70’ for the first time this past indoor season(70-5) and has a best this spring of 67-5.
Saturday, April 25
166-171 Racewalks 7:00am
172 High School Boys 400-meter Hurdles 9:00am
Nicholas Maitland(1-St.Elizabeth Tech) was 3rd at the Jamaican Championships with a personal best of 52.19.
Great Britain’s Niall Flannery(2), who turns 18 the day after this race, ran 52.48 in 2008. Ohio’s Jordan Rispress(3-Hilliard) had a best of 53.08 last year.
173 Olympic Development Men’s 400-Hurdles 9:05am
Former Long Island U. star Bryan Steele(1), won the Relays college race in 2006. He has a best of 50.54 this year.
174-221 High School Boys 4x400 Relay Heats 10:55am
The 8 fastest teams (excluding race #208) advance to the Championship Final later in the day (Event #254-5:00pm). It took 3:17.58(08), 3:18.19(07), 3:16.42(06), 3:18.22(05), and 3:18.29(04) to qualify for the final the last five years.
Leading teams
All U.S. times are from the indoor season(unless otherwise noted)
195 HSB 4x400 10:55am
William Penn(D) ran 1:29.61 in the 4x200 indoors
199 HSB 4x400 11:15am
Fordham Prep(N-3:20.24)
200 HSB 4x400 11:20am
Pope John XXIII,NJ(J-3:22.91
201 HSB 4x400 11:25am
Transit Tech,NY(B-3:21.51, Amityville,NY(M-3:22.72.
202 HSB 4x400 11:30am
Snyder,NJ(H-3:22.95.
203 HSB 4x400 11:45am
Sheepshead Bay,NY(G) ran 1:28.79 in the 4x200 indoors
204 HSB 4x400 11:40am
St.Elizabeth(E) ran 3:12.76 to finish 2nd at the Jamaican Championships; Wolmer’s Boys(I) was 4th in 3:14.12; Also: Altoona,PA(A-3:20.34).
205 HSB 4x400 11:45am
St.Jago(I) ran 3:12.44 to win at the Jamaican Championships. Others: Junipero Serra,CA(C-3:18.80[0]), Rahway,NJ(J-3:19.99; Weaver,CT(A-1:29.58/4x200). Weaver’s Daundre Barnaby ran 47.12 for 400-meters indoors.
206 HSB 4x400 11:50am
Strong heat, with Calabar,JAM(E-3:13.78, Vere Tech,JAM(J-3:15.16), Munro,JAM(I-3:15.91), Holmwood,JAM(A-3:16.91), and Western Branch,VA(L-3:19.50).
207 HSB 4x400 11:55am
Kingston College(J) ran 3:09.38 at the Gibson Relays in March, but “only” 3:14.43 at the Jamaican Champs. Others:Newburgh,NY(L-3:17.47), Jamaica College(M-3:18.66), Camperdown,JAM(F-3:19.27), Boys&Girls,NY(E-3:20.25[o]), Monsignor Farrell,NY(K-3:20.79[o]; Medgar Evers,NY(A-1:28.51/4x200), Jack Hayward,BAH(D) was 7th in last year’s Championship final.
211 HSB 4x400 12:12am
Penncrest(G-3:20.87)
214 HSB 4x400 12:24am
Coatesville,PA(D-3:22.65)
215 HSB 4x400 12:28am
Abington,PA(D-3:20.20), Bensalem,PA(3:22.48)
222 College Men 4-mile Relay Championship 1:00pm
If they haven’t won the DMR on Friday, this event could mark the first win ever for the Providence men at Penn. The Friars present a terrific lineup in Dominic Channon(4:06.30), Hayden McLaren(3:57.78), Richie Yeates(8:10.84-3k), and David McCarthy(3:57.75)
Coach Jason Vigilante has great success at Penn while he was at Texas, and has a strong entry here in his first year at Virginia. The Cavaliers finished 2nd last year and has team whose PRs add up to about 16:16. Sintayehu Taye(4:04.04), Kevin Tschirhart(4:05c), Emil Heineking(4:04.80), Andrew Jesien(4:02.18).
Other contenders include Arkansas(B), Georgetown(C), Villanova(I), and Penn State(G).
225 College Men’s 4x100 Championship 1:25pm
See event 114
LSU could become the first school in Penn history to win this event five times in a row. Returning are Gabriel Mvumvure and Trindon Holliday, who ran a come-from-behind anchor for last year’s winners.
Floirda State, the top seed, has never won this event at Penn, but they came close in 2007--in the lead at the time, anchorman Ronald Wright started cramping 30-meters before the finish and wound up in 2nd place. Texas A&M, another contender won this event in 1997.
227 H.S. Boys 4x100 Championship 1:35pm
See events 108/109
Can defending champion Calabar become the 2nd team to break 40-seconds at Penn? St.Jago set the Relays Record of 39.96 at Penn, while Calabar ran 39.90 to win at the Jamaican Champs. Jamaica had seven teams in the 2007 final and six last year.
230 USA vs The World Men’s Distance Medley 1:45pm
Lineups aren’t available at this time, but the U.S. will send two teams to the line against Kenya, Australia, Canada, and France.
The U.S. has yet to win this event since it was added to the Relays program in 2006. Kenya set a World Record of 9:15.56 in 2006 as Alex Kipchirchir ran down Bernard Lagat, with the U.S.(9:15.63) also getting under the previous record.
Olympic teammates Leo Manzano and Lopez Lomong could be the anchors for the U.S. teams
231-College Women’s 4x800 2:00pm
LSU(A), with LaTavia Thomas running a 2:03.8 anchor, won this event last year for the first time at Penn. Thomas is back, as are Kayann Thompson and Brittany Hall.
Tennessee has finished a close 2nd the last two years and once again should challenge for the title. Sarah Bowman, the 2009 NCAA Indoor Champion in the mile, was run down by Thomas in the last 200 meters last year. She ran 2:04.58 this past indoor season and has a strong supporting cast in Phoebe Wright(2:02.39i), freshman Chanelle Price(2:05.54/2:01.61-08), and Rolanda Bell(2:10.32.
Tennessee last won this event in 2004 and also won four years in a row from 1981-1984.
233 College Women 4x200 Championship 2:30pm
See event 126
Pat Henry hot his first Penn win as the head coach at Texas A&M in this event last year LSU has won this event 11-times.
235 College Men 4x200 Championship 2:35pm
See event 125
Top seed Florida won this event 2005 and 1999
237 USA vs The World Women’s Sprint Medley 2:40pm
Two USA lineups will matchup against teams from Great Britain, Jamaica, Russia, and a World All-Star team.
Hazel Clark anchored the U.S. to victory in this event the first three years, but Jamaica was the winner last year, with the U.S.(and Clark) finishing 3rd.
Former Seton Hall star Kenia Sinclair has anchored Jamaica all 4 years and is expected to return this year.
238 College Women’s 100m-hurdles Champ. 2:55pm
See event 148
Tennessee’s Celriec Law is hoping to move up from her 3rd-place finish of a year ago.
239 Olympic Dev. Women’s 100m-Hurdles 3:00pm
Nickeisha Wilson(1) and Shantia Moss(2) finished 1-2 in last year’s College race at Penn. Jessica Ohanaja(5) was the Penn College champion in 2007.
240 College Men’s 110m-Hurdles Champ. 3:05pm
See event 136
If NCAA Indoor Champ Ronnie Ash wins here, it would give Bethune-Cookman its first-ever Penn Relays title.
242 Olympic Development. Men’s 100-meters 3:15pm
Top contenders include Jason Smoots(1), winner of this event in 2005, Ivory Williams(2), ranked #9 in the U.S. in 2008, Mike Rodgers(3), 7th at the 2008 U.S. Olympic Trials, and Rae Edwards(5), the 2000 U.S. Junior Champion at 100 and 200 meters.
243 College Women’s 100-meters Champ. 4:30pm
See event 144
2006 winner Kelly Ann Baptiste(LSU) edged Alexandra Anderson(Texas) to win the 60-meters at last month’s NCAA Indoor Championships.
No one knew it at the time, of course, but the crowd in Franklin Field was watching the future Olympic Champion when UTech’s Shelly Ann Fraser won this race last year.
244 Masters Men’s 100-meters 75 and older 3:25pm
This race always brings a smile to everyone’s face. Even the elite athletes here for the USA vs the World races stop what they’re doing to watch
77-year old Joe Summerlin is the defending champion.
245 College Men’s 100-meters Championship 3:30pm
See event 147
Despite its great sprint history, LSU has never had a winner in this event at Penn. Kick returner Trindon Holliday could change that this year
246 H.S. Boys 4x800 Championships 3:50pm
See events 86-89
Albemarle(Va) set a U.S. indoor record of 7:36.99 with a lineup of Zach Vrhovac, Garrett Bradley, Luke Noble, and Anthony Kostelac. Can they beat the Jamaicans?
247 USA vs The World Women’s 4x100 Relay 4:05pm
(ESPN2’s live coverage begins with this event)
Allyson Felix is among the U.S. sprinters who could be competing in this event. Teams from Jamaica, The Bahamas, Germany, and Nigeria are expected to lineup against two U.S. squads.
The one blemish on Jamaica’s excellent Olympic showing in Beijing came in this event, where a botched exchange cost them an almost certain additional set of gold medals. The U.S. never made it to the final, failing to complete its final exchange in its heat.
Jamaica’s Shelly-Ann Fraser, Kerron Stewart, and Sherone Simpson swept the Olympic medals in the 100-meters last year.
The U.S. has won 8 of the 9 previous editions of this event.
248 Olympic Development Women’s Mile 4:10pm
Geena Gall(1), the 2008 NCAA Champion at 800-meters, ran on Michigan’s winning DMR team last year and was also a member of the 4x800 and 4x1500 quartets that set Collegiate Records at the 2007 Relays.
249 USA vs The World Men’s 4x100 Relay 4:15pm
It was a sign of things to come. The U.S. had never been beaten in the 8 previous races in this series, but that streak came to an end last year, with Jamaica, running without Asafa Powell and Usain Bolt, winning in 39.04. It didn’t help the U.S. cause when Leroy Dixon, running lead-off for the USA “Red” team, was struck in the left eye by a runner in the next lane. Dixon recovered well enough to pass the baton, but too much ground had been lost.
Jamaica, this time with Powell and the amazing Bolt, won the Olympic gold medal in Beijing in the world record time of 37.10, while the U.S. didn’t even make the final.
There’s a good chance that Powell will run at Penn this year, but no hint that Bolt will show up. Be prepared for the loudest roar you ever heard if he does step onto the track at Franklin Field.
This will be much more than a 2-team battle. Trinidad&Tobago won the silver medals in Beijing and will feature Richard Thompson, who was the surprising Olympic silver medalist in the 100-meters. Thompson was a member of the LSU teams that won the Penn College 4x100 the last three years(2006-2008). Other countries expected to compete against Jamaica and two U.S. lineups are Canada(2 teams), Great Britain, Germany, and The Bahamas.
250 Olympic Development Mile 4:20pm
Field includes Andrew Bumbalough(1), who is apparently redshirting this outdoor season, and his former Georgetown teammate, Matt Debole(2).
251 College Men’s 4x800 Championship 4:25pm
Texas(AA), with a strong lineup of Mike Carmody(1:48.94), Tevas Everett(1:49.55), Jacob Hernandez1:45.31-08, Tevan Everett(1:47.79), is poised to repeat as winners of this event. Hernandez was the 2008 Outdoor and 2009 Indoor NCAA Champion.
Other contenders include Arkansas(AB), Seton Hall(AC), Penn State(AE), and Georgetown(AD), which could be anchored by grad-student Liam Boylan-Pett, who anchored Columbia to an upset win in 2007.
254 H.S. Boys 4x400 Championship 5:00pm
See events 174-221
St.Jago(JAM) is the defending champion.
256 College Women’s 4x400 Championship 5:10pm
See events 62-63
Penn State is the defending champion, but the #1 seed is LSU, which hasn’t won this race since 1993(they aksin in 1987).
258 College Men’s 4x400 Championship 5:25pm
See events 152-153
As noted in the heats preview, Florida has the two fastest collegiate 400 runners in the country--Calvin Smith(45.32) and freshman Christian Taylor(45.34). A man of many talents, Taylor won the triple jump at this year’s NCAA Indoor Championships and was 6th in the long jump.
260 USA vs The World Men’s 4x400 Relay 5:35pm
Jeremy Wariner made his Penn debut last year, leading the U.S. “Blue” team to an easy victory in 2:59.71, but he will be running the 400-meters at the Drake Relays last year.
Olympic Champions LaShawn Merritt(400) and Angelo Taylor(400h) are expected to be part of the U.S. “pool.”
The only time the U.S. has lost this event was in 2005, when Tyree Washington fell on the 2nd leg, opening the door for Jamaica to win.
Expected to face two U.S. teams are Jamaica, The Bahamas, Nigeria, Dominican Republic, and Trinidad & Tobago.
262 USA vs The World Women’s 4x400 Relay 5:50pm
A U.S. lineup of Mary Wineberg (51.4), Allyson Felix (50.1), Natasha Hastings (50.5), and Sanya Richards (50.2) set a meet record of 3:22.16 last year. All except Wineberg, who is expecting a baby, will likely return this year. Richards, Felix, and Hastings(heat) all won gold medals in the 4x400 in Beijing.
There will be two U.S. lineups, plus teams from The Bahamas, Jamaica, Canada, and a World All-Star team.
SATURDAY FIELD EVENTS
309 High School Boys Discus 9:00am
Anthony Thomas(1-Holy Trinity,NY) has thrown 181-1 this year.
310 High School Boys High Jump 10:00am
Stanford-bound Skylar Lacour (1-Rancho Verde,CA) has cleared 7-1/4 this season. Senior Tomarris Bell(2-McQuaid,NY) jumped 6-11 1/2 to win at the National Scholastics in March. Others to watch: Glenn Scheideler(3-Randolph,NJ) 6-10 1/4, Sean Reilly(4-Arlington,NY) 6-10.
311 High School Boys Pole Vault 10:00am
Senior Allen Kelly(1-Kings Fork,Va) cleared 15-8 indoors, and junior Darwin Gibbons(2-Caravel,DE) cleared 15-6.
312 College Men’s Hammer Throw 11:00am
LSU’s Rabun Fox (1) is the defending champion, but his teammate, sophomore Walter Henning leads U.S. collegians this spring with a mighty throw of 235-11(PR). Rabun’s best this year is 202-6. Princeton senior Alex Pessala(2) has thrown 220-9 this season.
313 College Men’s Javelin 11:00am
Penn State’s Taner Evak leads the field with a throw of 230-9 this season. Florida’s Ben Davies is the top freshman in the country with a throw of 226-9.
314 High School Boys Long Jump Noon
Senior James Taylor(1-Nansemond,Va) is the defending champion and had best of 24-8(#2-US) during the indoor season. He was also among the U.S. leaders in 5 sprint events--55(4-6.26), 200(2-21.34), 300(2-33.88), 400(6-47.88), 500(5-1:04.33)!
Junior Carlton Lavong(2-Methacton,Pa) had a best of 24-2 3/4 indoors. Others to watch: Jordan Hill(3-Albemarle,Va, 24-1 1/2)
315 High School Boys Triple Jump Noon
Junior Ricardo Jaquite(1-Madison Park,Ma) had a best of 49-11 indoors and Jefferey Artis(2-Western Branch,Va) jumped 49-3/4. Ramone Bailey(3-Wolmer’s Boys) jumped 48-11 3/4 to win the Jamaican Champs.
318 College Men’s High Jump 1:30pm
Joe Kindred(1-St.Augustine’s) is attempting to duplicate his 2008 Penn double win in the long jump and high jump. He won both events at this year’s NCAA Div.II Indoor Championships. He jumped 7-3 indoors and has a best of 7-5 1/4.
Georgia Tech’s Jerome Miller jumped 7-5 indoors and won the ACC title this past weekend with a leap of 6-11 3/4.
Others include: Houston’s Ivan Diggs(3), who jumped 7-3 3/4 at the Texas Relays, and Coastal Carolina’s(4), with a best of 7-3 1/4
319 College Men’s Pole Vault 2:00pm
Texas sophomore Maston Wallace was the 2008 NCAA Outdoor Champion and cleared a personal best of 18-2 1/2 at this year’s Texas Relays. He was the runnerup at Penn last year.
Others to watch include South Carolina’s Elliott Haynie(2, 17-10 1/4), Albany’s Luke Schoen(3, 17-9i), Tennessee sophomore Joe Berry (4, 17-6 1/2).
320 College Men’s Triple Jump 2:00pm
7 of the top 10 finishers, including winner Christian Taylor, from this year’s NCAA Indoor Championships, are scheduled to compete. Frosh Taylor jumped a huge PR of 55-8 1/2 to win his first NCAA title. He’s also a key member of Florida’s 4x400 relay.
Manhattan freshman Albert Johnson(9) was the High School champion at last year’s Relays.
321 Olympic Dev. Women’s Hammer Throw 3:00pm
Sultana Frizell(1) set a Canadian National Record of 235-0 at the Mt.SAC Relays. Kristal Yush(2) finished 5th at the 2008 U.S. Olympic Trials.
317 Olympic Dev. Men’s Hammer Throw 4:00pm
Jake Freeman, the 2004 NCAA Champion while at Manhattan College, threw a big PR of 252-1 at Princeton this past weekend. He won this event in 2006.
JAMAICAN CHAMPIONSHIPS
Kingston, Jamaica, April 1-4
Results
http://jaaaltd.com/results/2009/champs/
Jamaica Gleaner Coverage
http://www.jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20090405/sports/
Holmwood Tech has incredible depth in the 4x100, running 45.02, 45.04, and 46.35 with 12 different girls. A 4th lineup ran 47.64 to win the Class 4 title.
14-year old Chris-Ann Gordon won the Girls Class 3 400 in 52.68 and also ran on Holmwood’s winning 4x400, which set a meet record of 3:34.35.
Nikita Tracey (Edwin Allen) won the Girls Open 400-hurdles in 57.41, while her younger sister Ristananna finished 2nd in 58.49.
BOYS
100(Class 1, 0.1),1.Dexter Lee (Herbert Morrison) 10.31, 2.Nickel Ashmeade (St.Jago) 10.37;
200(Class 1, 20.2),1.Ramone McKenzie (Calabar) 20.66, 2. Oshane Bailey (Calabar) 20.99, 3.Nickel Ashmeade 21.06;
400(Class 1),1.Ramone McKenzie 46.88, 2.Dwayne Extol (Wolmers) 47.11;
800(Class 1),1.Peter Matthews (DeCartaret) 1:53.32, 2.Conroy Crossman (Edwin Allen) 1:53.38;
400-hurdles(Open),1.Keiron Stewart (Kingston College) 51.14, 2.Andre Peart (Kingston College) 51.67;
4x100(Class I),1.Calabar 39.90, 2.St.Jago 40.38, 3.Kingston College 40.69, 4.St.George’s 40.70, DNF-Glengoffe (41.41-heat), Wolmers’ Boys(41.16-heat); DQ-Camperdown(41.51-heat);
4x400(Open),1.St.Jago 3:12.44, 2.St.Elizabeth Tech 3:12.76, 3.Calabar 3:13.78, 4.Wolmers’ Boys 3:14.12, 5.Kingston College 3:14.43, 6.Munro 3:15.91;
High Jump,1.Jonathan Reid (Kingston) 6-8 3/4;
Triple Jump(Open),1.Ramone Bailey (Womers’ Boys)48-11 3/4;
GIRLS
100(Class 1, 0.1),1.Carrie Russell (The Queen’s School) 11.37);
200(Class 1, -0.6),1.Jura Levy (Vere Tech) 23.73, 2.Gayon Evans (Edwin Allen) 23.86, 3.Audra Segree (Holmwood) 23.96
400(Class 1),1.Jodi-Ann Muir (Wolmers) 54.35, 2.Latoya McDermott (St.Andrew) 53.50;
400(Class 3),1.Chris-Ann Gordon (Holmwood) 52.68, 2.Shericka Jackson (Vere Tech) 53.13;
800(Class 1),1.Natoya Goule (Manchester) 2:04.29, 2.Keno Heaven (Holmwood) 2:07.62;
800(Class 2),1.Ristananna Tracey (Edwin Allen) 2:08.92;
1500(Class 1),1.Natoya Goule 4:31.43;
400-hurdles(Open),1.Nikita Tracey (Edwin Allen) 57.41, 2.Ristananna Tracey (Edwin Allen) 58.49;
4x100(Class 1),1.Holmwood Tech 45.02, 2.Edwin Allen 45.54, 3.Vere Tech 46.26, 4.The Queen’s School 46.47, 5.St.Andrew 47.02, 6.St.Jago 47.41;
4x100(Class 2),1.Holmwood Tech 45.04, 2.Vere Tech 45.46, 3.Edwin Allen 46.28, 4.Manchester 46.60;
4x100(Class 3),1.Vere Tech 46.18, 2.Holmwood Tech 46.35, 3.St.Jago 46.62, 4.The Queen’s School 47.16, 5.Manchester 47.48, 6.Herbert Morrison 47.60;
4x400(Open),1.Holmwood Tech 3:34.35(meet Record), 2.Manchester 3:36.54, 3.Edwin Allen 3:37.24, 4.Vere Tech 3:39.60, 5.Herbert Morrison 3:46.57, 6.Wolmers’ Girls 3:49.08(3:47.63-heat), 7.St.Jago 3:50.28;
High Jump(Class 2),1.Peta-gaye Reid (St.Elizabeth) 5-10
Long Jump(Class 1),1. Anne-Marie Duffus (Edwin Allen) 19-1 1/2, 2.Jhenelle Facey ( 18-11 1/4;
Long Jump(Class 3),1.Janieve Russell (Holmwood) 19-9 1/2w, 2.Chanice Porter (Manchester) 19-6;
Triple Jump(Open),1.Rochelle Farquharson (St.ELizabeth) 41-8;
2009 Penn Relays Construction
Two on-going construction projects will affect accessibility to Franklin Field and the Penn Relays Carnival Village area.
The demolition and reconstruction of South Street Bridge began on Dec. 8, 2008. The City of Philadelphia estimates it will be closed for approximately two years to all traffic including pedestrians, bicycles and cars.
(For those unfamiliar with the area, South Street Bridge connects University City to Center City, and the bridge is directly southeast of Franklin Field. South Street runs parallel and directly up against the south side of Franklin Field; it turns into Spruce Street at 33rd Street)
The closure of this important access point to University City will result in many changes to traffic patterns, signs and signals, and volume in the vicinity of campus. Obviously, this creates a huge change for people trying to gain access to Franklin Field and the Penn Relays.
For completely updated information about the South Street Bridge reconstruction, visit http://www.publicsafety.upenn.edu/ssbridge/?DB_OEM_ID=1720
In addition, the north side of Franklin Field, where the Penn Relays Carnival village is traditionally held is also closed for renovations to the exterior of Franklin Field. As a result, the Carnival village will now be located on south outer concourse of Franklin Field. For more information, go to:
http://www.thepennrelays.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=1720&ATCLID=3689188
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