2006 Penn Relays - Dyestat, The Internet Home of High School Track

	2006 Penn Relays April 27th - 29th, 2006 Franklin Field, University of Pennsylvania Philadelphia, PA

Thursday at Penn - The Girls Take the Stage

Live Results - Highlights - DMR - Mile - 3000m - Relay Heats - Field Events - Previews

New Jersey Distance Sweep - Holmwood's Relay Dominance - PA in the Field - 400H Record

Danielle Tauro NJ kicks in for easy mile win in 4:48.50 Suffern NY pulls away to 11:48.31 DMR victory Ashley Higginson NJ rallies late for 9:42.07 triumph Girls 400H - Sherene Pinnock, Edwin Allen (JAM) 56.09 MR Holmwood (JAM) girls rule relay qualifying -- 4x100 45.14 (fastest heat ever; won by 6 sec!), 4x800 9:04.35, 4x400 3:36.06. Two Field Event Wins for PA - Meet Record 12-8 by Lindsay Regan in PV, Comeback for Allyn Laughlin in SP 48-9.75.

Danielle Tauro with her Penn Relays watch. Open Photo
Girls Mile: Danielle is Dynamite By Steve Underwood There was no comeback from a debilitating illness, or any rally from a huge deficit against favored foes this time around. Instead of having to rely on a dramatic display of courage, as she did at Nike Indoor and Millrose, Southern Region NJ jr Danielle Tauro was healthy here at the Penn Relays mile and the favorite. All she had to do is run a solid race and that’s exactly what she did. Oh, there was the issue of some European-style elbowing and ankle-clipping. But Tauro shrugged that off, broke away from a pack of six with a lap to go, and closed in 66 for a 4:48.51. She won as she pleased and took the first step toward the end-of-the-season success she hopes for as the top returning miler in the country. Tauro was followed by Mantua Crestwood OH sr Bridgett Franek, who finished strong in the final 200 for 2nd in 4:52.04. Then came Bellport NY’s Brittany Sheffey (4:53.96) and St. Catherine’s VA and Nike Indoor 800 champ Katie Doswell (4:54.85). Bay Shore NY’s Sarah McCurdy took the early pace in 69, followed by Valley Stream North NY’s Theresa Rush. But they couldn’t maintain that tempo, as the next circuit was just 76. At 900 meters, a pack of four (including Tauro) closed on the top two like an accordion squeezing together. Heading to the bell, Tauro eased out and turned on the accelerator. The third lap was also 76, but the 4:43 performer made sure that the final one was much faster. McCurdy and Rush faded to fifth and sixth. Afterward, Tauro was as struck by the elbows and such as she was the significance of her Penn Relays title. “It was so rough,” she said. “I kept getting almost getting tripped, like 20,000 times, but I didn’t fall.” She ranked the victory “up there” with her Millrose Mile win in January. There, she came in off a quiet indoor campaign and, despite the best 2005 PR in the field, was heralded below New Yorkers Aislinn Ryan and Nicole Blood. Here she was the leading returnee, has come off some great training, and “had more confidence.” It’s the type of confidence that will serve her well in June.


Suffern's Kara McKenna, Shelby Greany, Deahna Vinson and Caroline Heidt. Open Photo
DMR: NY vs. NJ Suffern makes it 3 straight for NY By Tim Fulton You would have thought you were running this race at the NY Armory based on the teams in contention. Suffern, Warwick Valley, Roxbury, and Saratoga – all have been major players on the national scene over the last few years, if not longer. Saratoga won this race in 2004 and Warwick last year. Suffern is the reigning NSIC Champion as they narrowly missed the indoor national record with their 11:35.74 effort, while Roxbury has run 11:48. After a recall when Warwick’s first runner went down, the first 200m of the 1200 leg was crazy. Vere Tech dropped the stick twice while Saratoga and Midlothian dropped it once each. Suffern’s Shelby Greaney, a freshman who qualified for Footlocker Nationals, took charge at the 600m mark and was pushed by Roxbury’s Ariann Neutts all the way to the line as the runners split 3:37.6 and 3:37.8. Suffern’s Deahna Vinson opened up a gap with her 58.0 400 split, to Roxbury’s Sarah Tencza (60.4), before giving way to Caroline Heidt. Going into the race, on paper, the difference seemed to be Heidt, who has run 2:11. Could Roxbury match her speed? Heidt expanded the lead by over a second with her 2:13.7 carry to Roxbury’s Lauren Penney (2:15.1). “I was so nervous,” said Heidt, who blasted out in a reported 61. I knew there were a lot of really good girls running. I just had to do it because I knew my teammates were behind me. I always go out hard. I try and go out through the 6 (600m) and kick the final 200m.” When Suffern’s Kara McKenna took the stick, the lead was over 40m and it didn’t look good at first. McKenna hit the 1st 400m in 65 seconds while Jenn Ennis of Roxbury went through in 72, looking smooth. McKenna tied up a bit on the 2nd 400m and only ran around 77, hitting the 800m around 2:22 while Ennis closed the gap a bit. Onlookers started asking the question – could Ennis catch McKenna? It appeared McKenna was slowing and there was shot but Ennis never really shifted gears and McKenna closed hard enough for the win and a 4:58.9 split. Their time was 13 seconds slower than they ran indoors, but when you get to carry the giant wheel sized plaque home, who really cares? Ennis split 4:58.7 for Roxbury’s 11;52.07. Aislinn Ryan had the best anchor – 4:54.0 for Warwick Valley – but she had too much ground to make up. After the race, Greaney was so excited about the win. “This means a lot because this is my first time coming here. We’ve won nationals but Penn Relays is different because of the atmosphere. There’s so many good people here.” In a school that has accomplished as much as Suffern has on the track, it’s hard to do something that hasn’t been done before. These girls did just that today.
Girls 3K – NJ Turnpike Higginson takes title with 2:32 final 800m By Tim Fulton It was a three way battle early on and it stayed that way for almost the entire race. Northside VA runner Catherine White led most of the race, setting the early pace as Colts Neck junior Ashley Higginson, 3rd here last year, bided her time with Cassandra Schenk (Crestwood, OH) in 3rd. With 700m to go, Higginson made a move and took the lead, gapping White by seven meters instantly before charging ahead. Higginson ran the penultimate lap in 78 seconds before closing the final lap in 74 to win in 9:42.07, a huge personal best. Higginson said afterward she was shooting to break 9:50 and couldn’t stop talking about the history of this meet and how she can’t believe she’s now part of it. “This is my favorite place to run. Every year we look forward to running here. We love it here – it’s just so magical, so much history, so much tradition.” Her plan was to sit back and go for a ride, then outkick her opponents. When she started to roll a bit faster with about 1000m to go, she wasn’t sure she could hold it. She even looked back with a lap to go – a definite no-no in the world of distance running. Higginson couldn’t stop talking about her team, meaning her relay team members. She was a little disappointed she couldn’t run with them and talked about how they want to come back next year and try and win the DMR. We look forward to seeing that race, but for now, we’ll just enjoy a kid who respects the history of the sport so much. Photo at left - Ashley Higginson begins to pull away from White and Schenk. Open Photo

Suffern's Kara McKenna, Shelby Greany,
Deahna Vinson and Caroline Heidt. Open Photo

DMR: NY vs. NJ

Suffern makes it 3 straight for NY

By Tim Fulton

You would have thought you were running this race at the NY Armory based on the teams in contention. Suffern, Warwick Valley, Roxbury, and Saratoga – all have been major players on the national scene over the last few years, if not longer. Saratoga won this race in 2004 and Warwick last year. Suffern is the reigning NSIC Champion as they narrowly missed the indoor national record with their 11:35.74 effort, while Roxbury has run 11:48.

After a recall when Warwick’s first runner went down, the first 200m of the 1200 leg was crazy. Vere Tech dropped the stick twice while Saratoga and Midlothian dropped it once each. Suffern’s Shelby Greaney, a freshman who qualified for Footlocker Nationals, took charge at the 600m mark and was pushed by Roxbury’s Ariann Neutts all the way to the line as the runners split 3:37.6 and 3:37.8.

Suffern’s Deahna Vinson opened up a gap with her 58.0 400 split, to Roxbury’s Sarah Tencza (60.4), before giving way to Caroline Heidt. Going into the race, on paper, the difference seemed to be Heidt, who has run 2:11. Could Roxbury match her speed? Heidt expanded the lead by over a second with her 2:13.7 carry to Roxbury’s Lauren Penney (2:15.1).

“I was so nervous,” said Heidt, who blasted out in a reported 61. I knew there were a lot of really good girls running. I just had to do it because I knew my teammates were behind me. I always go out hard. I try and go out through the 6 (600m) and kick the final 200m.”
When Suffern’s Kara McKenna took the stick, the lead was over 40m and it didn’t look good at first. McKenna hit the 1st 400m in 65 seconds while Jenn Ennis of Roxbury went through in 72, looking smooth. McKenna tied up a bit on the 2nd 400m and only ran around 77, hitting the 800m around 2:22 while Ennis closed the gap a bit.

Onlookers started asking the question – could Ennis catch McKenna? It appeared McKenna was slowing and there was shot but Ennis never really shifted gears and McKenna closed hard enough for the win and a 4:58.9 split. Their time was 13 seconds slower than they ran indoors, but when you get to carry the giant wheel sized plaque home, who really cares?

Ennis split 4:58.7 for Roxbury’s 11;52.07. Aislinn Ryan had the best anchor – 4:54.0 for Warwick Valley – but she had too much ground to make up.

After the race, Greaney was so excited about the win. “This means a lot because this is my first time coming here. We’ve won nationals but Penn Relays is different because of the atmosphere. There’s so many good people here.” In a school that has accomplished as much as Suffern has on the track, it’s hard to do something that hasn’t been done before. These girls did just that today.

Girls 3K – NJ Turnpike

Higginson takes title with 2:32 final 800m

By Tim Fulton

It was a three way battle early on and it stayed that way for almost the entire race. Northside VA runner Catherine White led most of the race, setting the early pace as Colts Neck junior Ashley Higginson, 3rd here last year, bided her time with Cassandra Schenk (Crestwood, OH) in 3rd.

With 700m to go, Higginson made a move and took the lead, gapping White by seven meters instantly before charging ahead. Higginson ran the penultimate lap in 78 seconds before closing the final lap in 74 to win in 9:42.07, a huge personal best.

Higginson said afterward she was shooting to break 9:50 and couldn’t stop talking about the history of this meet and how she can’t believe she’s now part of it. “This is my favorite place to run. Every year we look forward to running here. We love it here – it’s just so magical, so much history, so much tradition.”

Her plan was to sit back and go for a ride, then outkick her opponents. When she started to roll a bit faster with about 1000m to go, she wasn’t sure she could hold it. She even looked back with a lap to go – a definite no-no in the world of distance running.

Higginson couldn’t stop talking about her team, meaning her relay team members. She was a little disappointed she couldn’t run with them and talked about how they want to come back next year and try and win the DMR. We look forward to seeing that race, but for now, we’ll just enjoy a kid who respects the history of the sport so much.

Photo at left - Ashley Higginson begins to pull away from White and Schenk. Open Photo

(more stories and pics to come)

Thursday's Prep Previews (from Walt Murphy's Preview)

400H - 4x800 - 4x100 - 4x400 - Distance Events - Field Events

4.High School Girls 400m-hurdles 10:20am
Krystal Cantey(#1), a senior at Winslow Township(NJ), finished 3rd last year, then went on to win at the Nike Outdoor Championships over West Catholic’s Nicole Leach, who had won at Penn with a Carnival Record of 57.84. Cantey ran 56.83 last year and will have to be at her best to hold off Jamaican Champion Sherene Pinnock(#2-Edwin Allen), who will be trying to forget last year’s Relays, when she was disqualified for a false start. Pinnock, who finished 2nd to Leach (now a frosh at UCLA) in 2004, ran 57.03 at the Jamaican Champs and 57.50 on April 16 to win at the Carifta Games.

5-8. High School Girls 4x800

The 12 fastest teams from the four 4x800 races advance to the Championship Final on Friday (Event #124-12:40pm). 9:25.46(2005) and 9:23.86(2004) were the slowest qualifying times the last two years. Suffern(NY), which ran 8:59.37 indoors, has chosen to run the distance medley, leaving the door open for a possible Jamaican sweep. Holmwood Tech and Edwin Allen can field teams that are capable of running under 8:50 in the final and St.Jago has run 9:02.93 this year. 15. “Small Schools” 10:30am. Heat One-Holmwood Tech(AH) returns Bobbi-Gaye Wilkins and Vanessa Boyd from last year’s winning team and could win the final without 400-specialist Sonita Sutherland, who ran 2:08.80 at the Jamaican Champs. The school ran 8:47.26 without SUtherland back in February. Other potential finalists include Bay Shore,NY(AO-9:12.14i) and Bronxville,NY(AN-9:24.92i).

6.“Small Schools” 10:40am. Heat Two--Leading teams are Jamaica’s Vere Tech(BB), which has run 9:02.93 this year, and Pope John XXIII,NJ(BA), which ran 9:16.15 indoors.

7.“Large Schools” 10:50am. Heat One- Edwin Allen (CK) won this event in 2003 and 2004, but was barred from competing last year due to a rules infraction in 2004. They’ve already run 8:50.03 this year. Others who could make the final include Ward Melville,NY(CJ-9:13.31i) and Henderson-West Chester,PA(CA-9:23.27i) 8.“Large Schools” 11:00am. Heat Two-Possible finlaists include Roosevelt,MD(DJ-9:11.53i), Ridgefield,CT(DD-9:21.37i), Morris Knolls,NJ(DC), which returns 3 runners from last year’s 5th-place team, and Boys&Girls,NY(CA- 9:24.33i), the only U.S. team to win this race (2002) in the last 20 years.

9&10--.H.S. Girls 4x100 Heats 11:10am

The eight fastest teams from the “small” and ‘”large” school heats advance to the Championship Final on Friday (Event #138). Heats are run in alphabetical order. 47.76(2005) and 47.30(2004) were the slowesr qualifying times the last two years. Holmwood Tech(EF), 2nd last year, ran 44.88 in February and is co-favorite with Edwin Allen(ND), which ran 45.04 at the Jamaican Champs. Other potential Jamaican finalists include Manchester((FT), which ran 46.37 at the Jamaican Champs, The Queen’s School(VU/46.32) and defending champion St.Jago’s(JO). For the 2nd year in a row, Vere Tech(JAM), which had three different teams run 46+ at the Jamaican Champs, did not enter the event. Bethel,VA(NU), the top American team last year (4th), is led by Francena McCorory, who set U.S. high school records in the 300 and 400 during the indoor season.

13.-56. High School Girls 4x400 relays (heats) 1:15- 4:50pm

The eight fastest teams advance to the Championship Final on Friday (Event #176). 3:53.90(2005) and 3:49.51(2004) were the slowest times to make the final the last two years.

40.(3:30pm) The first of the “hot” races. Defender Holmwood Tech(F) ran a great 3:33.28 in February and 3:35.26 at the Jamaican Champs(A Holmwood foursome set the Carnival Record of 3:34.75 in 2001). Anchor Sanita Sutherland has run 51.13 for 400-meters this year. Other potential finalists: The Queen’s School, 5th last year, ran 3:46.54 at the Jamaican Champs, and Roosevelt,MD (J) and East Orange,NJ(K), ran 3:48.04 and 3:49.50, respectively, during the insoor season.

41.(3:35pm) Edwin Allen(J), which ran 3:38.29 at the Jamaican Champs, is led by Sherene Pinnock, who might have already won the 400-hurdles earlier in the day. Allen finished 2nd last year and has never won this event at Penn. Bethel,VA(H), returns 3 of the 4 runners from last year’s 4th-place team, with Francena McCorory leading the way. McCorory set U.S. National H.S. records in the 300(36.96) and 400(51.93) during the indoor season. The Hampton-bound senior hopes to own her own funeral home some day! ANother good individual to watch is Gabby Mayo (Southeast,NC-C), who was 2nd in the 60-hurdles and 5th in the 200 at the National Indoor Scholastics.

42(3:40pm) Manchester(D), 6th last year, ran 3:44.65 at the Jamaican Champs, while Menchville,VA(C), ran 3:51.19 indoors.

43(3:45pm) Vere Tech(G) ran 3:39.04 at the Jamaican Champs. Vere won this event 9 years in a row from 1986-1994, but hasn’t won since then. Boys&Girls,NY(K) ran 3:49.18 nindoors.

54(4:40pm) “South Jersey League” Krystal Cantey, one of the favorites to win the 400-hurdles earlier in the day, will be running for Winslow Township,NJ(M). Woodrow Wilson(J) ran 3:52.55 to win the Indoor Eastern States title.

55.(4:45pm) “Philadelphia Catholic Girls”--Superstar Nicole Leach is now a frosh at UCLA, but West Catholic(F), led by Kneshia Sheard and Latavia Thomas, still has the talent to make the Championship Final for the 4th year in a row. They finished 3rd last year and had a best of 3:47.91 this past indoor season.

74. H.S. Girls Distance Medley 6:35pm
Excellent field. Warwick Valley,NY(B-11:45.97i) is the defending champion, but anchor Aislinn Ryann has a completely different supporting cast this year. Suffern,NY(A) had the fastest indoor times in the U.S. in the 4x800(8:59.37) and the DMR(11:35.74), and decided to go for the longer race at Penn. They will be led by frosh Shelby Greany and senior Kara McKenna. Other U.S. contenders include 2004 winner Saratoga Springs,NY(D-12:00.17), with Lindsey Ferguson and Hannah Davidson (1-2 in the 3000 last year) leading the way, and Roxbury,NJ(C-11:48.02i), with sub- 5 miler Jenn Ennis on the anchor. A possible contender is Jamaica’s Vere Tech(E), with Stacey Bell on the anchor. Bell ran 2:09.40(800) and 4:39.17(1500) at the Jamaican Champs. Vere won this event the first six years it was contested (1990-1995) and set the Carnival Record of 11:40.51 in 1992. Conestoga,PA(L) will be anchored by 4:56 miler Liz Costello and Ocean City,NJ(M) will have Brittany Sedberry, who passed up a chance to win the 3000 to help her team here.

75. High School Girls Mile 6:50pm This appears to be a wide-open race. Danielle Tauro (#3-Southern Regional,NJ) was 2nd last year and was a come-from-behind winner at the Millrose Games. Brittany Sheffey (#1-Bellport,NY), who was 4th last year, edged NY rival Kristy Longman (#2- Sayville,NY) in the 1000 at the NY Indoor State meet (2:51.39- 2:51.44) and in the mile at the National Indoor Scholastics (4:50.10-4:50.11). Sarah Morrison (#4-Chambersburg,PA) ran 4:54.05 to win the mile at the Pennsylvania Indoor State Meet. Others to watch include Bridget Franek (#10-Crestwood,OH), who was 3rd last year, Katie Doswell (#8-St.Catherine’s,VA), with an indoor best of 4:57.68, and Sarah McCurdy(#9-Bay Shore,NY), who ran 4:48.84 indoors.

76. High School Girls 3000-meters 6:55pm Ashley Higginson (#4-Colts Neck,NJ), the top returnee from last year’s race(3rd), ran a quick 10:36.64 to win the 3200 at the New Jersey Indoor State meet. She’ll be challenged by frosh teammate Briana Jackucewicz (#2) and junior Catherine White (#3-Northside,Va), who ran 10:32.27 for 2-miles to finish 2nd at the Nike Indoor Nationals.

285.High School Girls Javelin Noon Junior Elisha Jones (#3-Eisenhower,Pa) won last year with a throw of 143-10. Taniesha Blair(#1-Holmwood Tech) threw 152-11 to win at the Jamaican Champs. Junior Kacey James(#2-Carlisle,Pa) had a best of 147-6 in 2005.

286.High School Girls Pole Vault 1:00pm Lindsay Regan(#1-Easton Area,Pa) set the Relays Record of 12-7 1/2 to win in 2004, but finished 3rd last year. She had a best of 12-10 duing the indoor season. Other contenders include Natalie Gengel (#2-Princeton,NJ) and Brooke Borso (#3- Whitehall,Pa) both of whom jumped 12-3 indoors, and 12-footers Beki Finn (#4-Liberty,Pa) and Abby Schaffer (#5-Easton Area,Pa).

289.High School Girls Long Jump 1:45pm Jamaican champion Rosemarie White (#1-Holmwood Tech) has a best of 20-10 this season. (The Relays Record is 21-0). 16-year old Arantxa King(#2), a junior at Medford(Ma) H.S., has had a busy year. She jumped an indoor personal best of 20-3 in February, then represented her native Bermuda at the Commonwealth Games in Australia in March and at the Carifta Games in Guadeloupe earlier this month (where she won the silver medal). She was named Bermuda’s Female Athlete of the Year in 2005 after winning gold medals at the World Youth and Pan-American Junior Championships. She also set a National recod of 20-11 3/4.

290 High School Girls Triple Jump 1:45pm Defending champion Kimberly Williams(#1-Vere Tech,JA) jumped 43-3 at the Jamaican Champs and could chalenge the Relays Record of 42-2 3/4, set by Carlene Cummings (Dwight Morrow- Englewood,NJ) in 1999. She won last year with a jump of 40-11. Nakeisha Wineglass (#3-Hayfield,Va) jumped 39-6 indoors.

292.High School Girls High Jump 2:30pm Rachel Gehret (#1-Altoona Area,Pa) is the defending champion (5-8 1/2), but she’ll be facing a tough field that includes Ashley Gatling (#3-Deep Creek,Va/5-9), Erin Hannon (#2-Bradfod,Pa/5-8 3/4), Brittany Dexter (#5-Burnt Hills,NY/5-8), and Carin Knight (#6-New Rochelle,NY/5-8).

296. High School Girls Shot Put 4:00pm. Allyn Laughlin (#1-Center,Pa) won the Pennsylvania Indoor State title with a throw of 47-9 3/4. Canada’s Kaitlyn Andrews (#2- Acton,ONT) has a best of 46-9 and was 2nd at the National Indoor Scholastics. Karen Shump (#3-Penncrest,Pa) was 2nd to Laughlin at State with a best of 46-7 1/2.

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