Penn State, Virginia, and Oregon with one lap to go (Photo Kim Spir)

Virginia wins its first Penn Relays men’s Championship of America since 1943 with a 7:15.38 clocking.

On the opening leg, Owen Dawson handed off first for Penn State with everyone still in contention.

Casimir Loxsom kept the Nittany Lions in the lead on the second leg, thanks to the day’s fastest split, 1:46.58. Lance Roller moved Virginia up to second place with Oregon, Tennessee, Texas and LSU following.

Stephen Finley moved Virginia into the lead at the final exchange, with Oregon and Penn State close behind.

but its Virginia and Robby Andrews at the finish ! (Photo Kim Spir)

Robby Andrews (Virginia) took the pace out on the anchor leg, leading Andrew Wheating (Oregon) and Ryan Foster (Penn State). Foster snuck into the lead at the bell. Down the backstretch he held off Wheating and it appeared that they had dropped Andrews. But the Virginia freshman found another gear and came rolling to the front of the final turn, holding off Wheating (just as he did in the 800 at the NCAA Indoor championships in March). Andrews and Wheating had identical splits of 1:47.78.

Full results can be found here.

Warwick Valley on the lead (Photo Kristen Holzherr)

We have had a great race in the HSB 4×800.  After the first two legs, it was Warwick Valley (NY), Long Beach Poly (CA), and Kingston College (JA) in a great three team race.  Warwick Valley made a solid move before the last handoff, taking a small lead on Poly.  At the bell, Warwick Valley led, but there were huge moves by Georgetown Prep and Kingston College.  Nevertheless, Warwick Valley held on in 7:41.77.  The top 7 teams were under 7:50.

Full results here.  Off note, the clouds have moved in . . . and its getting a little windy.  Hopefully the rain will hold off !

Tennessee's Wright leads LSU's Thomas. Photo by Kim Spir

LSU’s Charlene Lipsey took it out hard and immediately set the stage for a great run. Tennessee’s Kimarra McDonald handed off in second, about five meters back.

On the second leg Tennessee’s Chanelle Price gradually closed down on LSU’s Kayann Thompson, but Thompson had a final burst to maintain the lead.

The third leg was the battle of Brittanys, with Tennessee’s Sheffey catching LSU’s Hall in the final 50 meters and handing off a stride ahead.

The anchor leg was a classic battle with Tennessee’s Phoebe Wright leading LSU’s LaTavia Thomas the whole way. A final surge from Wright opened up an 8:18.22–8:19.77 margin of victory. Those are the second and fourth fastest times in Relays history.

The Lady Vols completed the distance “double-triple” — sweeping the 4×800m 4×1500 and distance medley for the second year in a row. Villanova did it in 1989 and 90.

Tennessee’s splits: Kimarra McDonald (2:07.71), Chanelle Price (2:05.33), Brittany Sheffey (2:04.29), Phoebe Wright (2:00.89)

Full results can be found here.

A happy Holmwood Tech team after winning the HSG 4x800 (Photo Kim Spir)

Holmwood Tech of Jamaica put on a dominating performance, winning this event for an event-record eighth time. Their time of 8:42.49 is the third fastest ever at the Relays. Edwin Allen, also of Jamaica was second in 8:47.73.

Holmwood, Randolph (NJ), Edwin Allen and Columbia (NJ) were ahead of the pack at the first exchange. On the second leg, Holmwood went out hard and opened up a gap that grew to 40 meters by the exchange, with Edwin Allen and Long Beach Poly next. From there Holmwood continued to hold its lead.

On the anchor, Edwin Allen’s Ristananna Tracey ran the day’s fastest split (2:06.72) to pull away form Long Beach Poly (9:00.72), which was a full 50 meters ahead of the chase pack.

Holmwood’s splits: Lovan Palmer (2:11.77), Petrene Plummer (2:08.78), Monique Thompson (2:12.00), Chris-Ann Gordon (2:09.95)

Full results are posted here.

A Long Beach Poly Handoff in the boys' 4x800 (Photo Kim Spir)

We have completed the high school boys 4×800, with Long Beach Poly (CA) running a sizzling 7:43.  You can view the ranked list here.

Official qualifiers are here. Magnifcat of Ohio was the final qualifier with a 9:17.  Many of these teams have run under nine minutes, including Edwin Allen.

Kim Mackay of Kellenberg Memorial (Uniondale, NY) had the fastest split of the morning, 2:10.1, to anchor her team’s 9:15.21 (the ninth best time out of the heats). Brittney Jackson (2:11.4 anchor) and Ty Vonna Johnson (2:12.4 leadoff) had the day’s second and third best carries, helping Columbia (Maplewood, NJ) to a 9:11.47, seventh fastest time overall.

Actually, the schedule for the entire Carnival is nearly complete and it should be online tonight. The countdown is upon us. We hope you are ready.

For those trivia buffs out there, the national record in the 4×800 has been set at the Penn Relays before . . . . . but in 1921.  88 years ago, Cedar Rapids (IA) set the record with an 8:25.4, almost 50 seconds slower.

Jacob Hernandez takes the baton for Texas (Photo by Han Nguyen)

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 again, with Coppin State (MD), Georgetown, and Penn State.  These five schools are all together on the third leg.

At the final exchange, we still have all five teams, with Penn State in the lead.  One lap to go, its Penn State and Texas.  Jacob Hernandez of Texas takes over the lead.

We have Texas winning, with Liam Poylan-Bett of Georgetown charging hard for 2nd.  Hernandez successfully defends his title with a 1:46 split.  The winning time was 7:16, the fastest winning time in 5 years.

The Albemarle boys enjoy a Franklin Field victory lap. Photo by Han Nguyen

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 wheels down the stretch to pull away from Morris Hills’ Liam Tansey, giving Albemarle the victory, 7:30.67 to 7:31.60 — both teams under the national high school record. Previous record — 7:32.89 — was set in 2002 by Auburn HS (WA).

Check out these splits: Garrett Bradley (1:55.43), Zach Vrhovac (1:50.57), Luke Noble (1:55.34), Anthony Kostelac (1:49.33)

Results are here.