Sunday Morning Media Links
As we say goodbye to the 115th Penn Relays, here’s what some of our friends in the media have to say about the meet: • The Associated Press has one report on the USA vs The World races and another focusing on Tennessee’s record-setting women’s 4×800. • Also covering the USA vs The World: Universal [...]
Signing Off for the Penn Relays
With the conclusion of our two final events, the ECAC and IC4A college 4×400 heats, we have reached the end of our 115th Penn Relay Carnival. We’ve had great weather, great spectators, and great international internet viewers like yourself. On behalf of Carnival Director Dave Johnson, we appreciate you visiting our meet blog, and we [...]
See you in 2010!
The 2009 Penn Relays are in the books. We’ll see you next year for the 116th edition: April 22, 23, 24, 2010!
USA vs the World: Men's 4×400
After Wallace Spearman of the USA Blue team playfully goads the partisan Jamaican crowd, we are now underway. Kerron Clement hands off first for USA Red, which leads the whole way. Christopher Brown of the Bahamas challenged late, but Olympic champion LaShawn Merritt had it under control with a final burst, locking up a 2:59.78 [...]
2009 College Athlete of the Meet for Relays
Our college athlete of the meet for relays is Matthew Gibney of Villanova with his excellent come-from-behind victory in the DMR, splitting 3:58.4.
USA vs the World: Women's 4×400
After an impressive third leg from Allyson Felix (49.64 — fastest of the day), USA Red’s Sanya Richards had a cakewalk to wrap up an eighth straight win for an American team in this series. The time: 3:23.08. Novlene Williams-Mills gave it a great effort on Jamaica’s third leg, but ultimately could not match the [...]
College Men's 4×400 Championship
Another wire-to-wire victory. Florida State blasts out early and holds off a late charge from St. Augustine’s for a 3:01.54 to 3:02.10. Those are the 3rd and =6th best times in Penn history. Results.
High School Boys Athlete of the Meet for Relays
Not surprisingly, our high school boys athlete of the meet for relays is Anthony Kestelac, the anchor of the national record setting boys 4×800. Kestelac ran a 1:49.3, which is 4th fastest all time. For those trivia buffs out there, the national record in the 4×800 has been set at the Penn Relays before . [...]
2009 College Women’s 4×400 Championship
Event #256, the College Women’s Championship. We have had a number of fast times today, and the college women should not disappoint (although there is a breeze here at Franklin Field now). The leading qualifier was UTech from Jamaica in 3:34, but Texas A&M and Florida State are right on their heels with 3:36 and [...]
High School Boys 4×400 Championship
As an appetizer, we’ve got the Philadelphia Area race. Abington win in 3:18.54, with Chester second in 3:19.18. Results. Next up is the Championship of America, featuring five teams from Jamaica and one each from Pennsylvania, Virginia and California. St. Jago went wire-to-wire, holding off several challenges, to win in 3:12.55. Results.
Saturday's Attendance: 47,904
Another great crowd. Today’s attendance at Franklin Field is a hearty 47,904 — the sixth biggest crowd in Penn Relays annals. This brings our total — following 24,315 on Thursday and 39,501 on Friday — to 111,720, the fifth best three-day crowd in meet history.
2009 College Men’s 4×800 Championship
Our next championship is the college men’s 4×800, always a great race. We have a number of teams in it at the first exchange, including Arkansas and Texas. Arkansas led unofficially in 1:50. Penn State moves into the lead during the 2nd leg; we have a very big group. Second exchange includes Arkansas and Texas [...]
USA vs The World: Women's 4×100
After the Jamaican men’s disappointment in the previous race the crowd was really anxious for this one. Unfortunately for the Jamaican fans it was the same result. Lauryn Williams blasted out of the blocks and gave Allyson Felix a huge lead for USA Red. Kerron Stewart and Shelly-Ann Fraser gave a great challenge, but couldn’t [...]
College Athletes of the Meet for Individual Events
Our collegiate athletes of the meet for individual events are Rachel Laurent of LSU and Jeremy Hicks, also of LSU. Laurent set a meet record with a 13-10 1/2 pole vault clearance, and Hicks won the long jump in 26-3 on his last jump. Hicks’ mark was #7 All-Time.
Sarah Bowman Named College Women's Relay Athlete of the Meet
Sarah Bowman of the University of Tennessee was named the college women’s athlete of the meet for relay events. Bowman ran on three victorious relays for the Lady Vols, anchoring the distance medley and the 4×1500, and running the third leg on the 4×800. Her 1500 split of 4:10.2 is the second fastest ever at [...]
2009 USA vs. The World: 4×100
We have excellent fields in the 4×100, featuring very speedy teams from Jamaica, the United States, and the Trinidad & Tobago. Hopefully, many of you are following this on live television . . . . 37.92 ! A new Franklin Field record by the USA team . . . . . Walter Dix absolutely smoked [...]
High School Boys 4×800 Championship
Bellefield Comprehensive of Jamaica opened up an early lead, but by the second exchange Zach Vrohvac had put Albemarle in front. Sean Pohorence of Morris Hills moved into the lead for the last handoff. Jamaica College’s Waquar Decosta briefly caught the two leaders, but was left behind with 200 to go. Anthony Kostelac showed some [...]
TV Alert: We're about to go live on ESPN2
ESPN2 has two hours of coverage beginning at 4 pm Eastern.
Straightaway Finals
College women’s 100-meter hurdles: Seun Adigun (Houston) wins in 12.98. Wind is 0.0, so it’s legal. Results. Olympic Development women’s 100-meter hurdles: Nickiesha Wilson goes 12.95 for the victory. Results. College men’s 110-meter hurdles: Jason Richardson of South Carolina wins 13.56, just 0.02 ahead of Ronnie Ash of Bethune Cookman. Results. Olympic Development men’s 110-meter [...]
USA vs The World: Women's Sprint Medley
On the track. Olympic 400 champ Christine Ohuruogu is leading off for Great Britain. After the opening 200 legs, USA Blue, Jamaica and the World All-Stars are well in front. Debbie Dunn runs a strong leg to put USA Blue in front at the final exchange. Kenia Sinclair of Jamaica sits on Hazel Clark through [...]
College Men's 4×200 Championship
South Carolina gets a good start, but Texas A&M takes over and blasts a 1:20.32 winning time, the sixth best ever at Penn. Runner-up Florida (1:21.52) was more than a second behind. Results. The IC4A race goes to Hampton in 1:23.55. Results.
2009 College 4×200 Women’s Championship
We move to the 4×200 . . . . Porscha Lucas runs an excellent anchor leg to win in 1:30.28 for Texas A&M – the 2nd fastest ever and the 2nd win an a row.
Distance Sweep History (2009)
Tennessee, by virtue of winning the DMR, 4×1500, and 4×800, has completed the trifecta distance sweep. They are the third school to accomplish this – Villanova during their heyday actually scored a trifecta four times (1989, 1990, 1995, 1997), and the Shalane Flanagan led UNC Tar Heels won all three in 2003. Certainly Tennessee’s sweep, [...]
2009 College Women’s 4×800 Championship
Quickly, we move to our next championship, the college women’s 4×800. Tennessee is looking for the big distance sweep of DMR, 4×1500, and 4×800. We saw Tennessee win the 4×1500 in a world best time yesterday. At the first exchange, its Tennessee in 2:08.9, with Kim McDonald passing to Chanelle Price. University of Maryland-Eastern Shore [...]