2016 Penn RelaysMay 1, 2016 by Jennifer Zahn
Top 5 Highlights of Penn Relays Day 3
Top 5 Highlights of Penn Relays Day 3
The 2016 Penn Relays wrapped up on Saturday, April 30, with a number of elite performances. Check out some of the top highlights below! Penn Wins 4xMile for
The 2016 Penn Relays wrapped up on Saturday, April 30, with a number of elite performances. Check out some of the top highlights below!
Penn Wins 4xMile for First Championship of America Title in 42 Years
For the first time in 42 years, Penn won a Championship of America title thanks to a gutsy performance by All-American anchor Tommy Awad in the 4xMile.
With a lap to go, the home team was sitting in fourth behind Iona, Indiana and Georgetown, but Awad saved a wicked kick for the homestretch. The senior would not be denied—he charged ahead, and clipped off Iona’s Liam Dee, Georgetown’s Ahmed Bile and Indiana’s Jason Crist on his way to the finish line. Awad finished with a 4:00.3 split to secure the victory for the Quakers.
Penn’s Splits: Keaton Naff (4:08.0), Chris Hatler (4:06.7), Nick Tuck (4:11.3), Thomas Awad (4:00.3) = 16:26.30
Penn State Earns Third 4x800 Title at Penn Relays in Five Years
The Nittany Lions lived up to their “Mid-D U” reputation by cruising to a victory more than three seconds ahead of runner-up Columbia. All-American Robby Creese got Penn State off to a good start with a smooth first leg, and handed off to Jordan Makins in second place. He fought Houston’s Cameron Laverty for two laps before passing the baton to Isaiah Harris. The freshman phenom opened a huge gap on the field with a 1:48.50, and made Brannon Kidder’s anchor duties a lot easier. Kidder slammed the door on any challengers with a cool 1:48.59 to snag Penn State its third 4x800 title at the carnival in five years.
The win brought Creese, Makins, Harris and Kidder their second wheel of the weekend.
Penn State’s Splits: Robby Creese (1:50.23), Jordan Makins (1:50.05), Isaiah Harris (1:48.50), Brannon Kidder (1:48.59) = 7:17.37
Kaela Edwards Rips a 2:00.83 Split; Anchors Oklahoma State to Second
Senior All-American anchor Kaela Edwards received the baton in sixth place and was about six seconds behind the leader when they entered the final lap. That’s when she began to make her move.
Summoning an unbelievable burst of energy after mowing down five other teams, Edwards made up serious ground on Georgetown anchor Sarah Schmidt, but ran out of real estate as she charged down the homestretch. She posted a 2:00.83 split against Schmidt’s 2:05.46 to finish about three tenths of a second after the Hoya.
Georgetown’s Splits: Heather Martin (2:07.98), Sabrina Southerland (2:06.35), Emma Keenan (2:06.27), Sarah Schmidt (2:05.46) = 8:26.02
Oklahoma State’s Splits: Kaylee Dodd (2:06.76), Clara Nichols (2:08.79), Anna Boyert (2:10.00), Kaela Edwards (2:00.83) = 8:26.34
The Lyles Brothers Shine in Boys 4x100m, 4x400m for T.C. Williams
Noah and Josephus Lyles delivered outstanding performances in the Championship of America boys 4x100 and 4x400 to help T.C. Williams High School (VA) earn third in both events. In the boys 4x400, Noah and Josephus turned in splits of 45.6 and 46.19, respectively, in a relay that recorded the fastest time among American high schools, but couldn’t match the depth of the Jamaican teams. The same situation occurred in the boys 4x100, where the Lyles brothers torched the track on the straights, but couldn’t catch Calabar or Kingston College.
The Lyles brothers are separated by one year in age, and have both committed to run for Florida.
T.C. Williams’ Splits: Trekel Lockett (50.9), Noah Lyles (45.6), Mahlique Booth (50.85), Josephus Lyles (46.19) = 3:13.55
Centenarian Ida Keeling Breaks 100m World Record for Her Age Group
Ida Keeling of Harlem is the fastest-ever 100-year-old, and she now has a world record to prove it. Keeling was the oldest person to contest the masters mixed 100m dash for those aged 80 and older, and set what will likely be a longstanding record for 100-year-old women at 1:17.33.
Her closest competition was 99-year-old Champ Goldy, who finished in 45.70. Ed Cox, 88, won the event in a remarkable 17.85.
Penn Wins 4xMile for First Championship of America Title in 42 Years
For the first time in 42 years, Penn won a Championship of America title thanks to a gutsy performance by All-American anchor Tommy Awad in the 4xMile.
With a lap to go, the home team was sitting in fourth behind Iona, Indiana and Georgetown, but Awad saved a wicked kick for the homestretch. The senior would not be denied—he charged ahead, and clipped off Iona’s Liam Dee, Georgetown’s Ahmed Bile and Indiana’s Jason Crist on his way to the finish line. Awad finished with a 4:00.3 split to secure the victory for the Quakers.
Penn’s Splits: Keaton Naff (4:08.0), Chris Hatler (4:06.7), Nick Tuck (4:11.3), Thomas Awad (4:00.3) = 16:26.30
Penn State Earns Third 4x800 Title at Penn Relays in Five Years
The Nittany Lions lived up to their “Mid-D U” reputation by cruising to a victory more than three seconds ahead of runner-up Columbia. All-American Robby Creese got Penn State off to a good start with a smooth first leg, and handed off to Jordan Makins in second place. He fought Houston’s Cameron Laverty for two laps before passing the baton to Isaiah Harris. The freshman phenom opened a huge gap on the field with a 1:48.50, and made Brannon Kidder’s anchor duties a lot easier. Kidder slammed the door on any challengers with a cool 1:48.59 to snag Penn State its third 4x800 title at the carnival in five years.
The win brought Creese, Makins, Harris and Kidder their second wheel of the weekend.
Penn State’s Splits: Robby Creese (1:50.23), Jordan Makins (1:50.05), Isaiah Harris (1:48.50), Brannon Kidder (1:48.59) = 7:17.37
Kaela Edwards Rips a 2:00.83 Split; Anchors Oklahoma State to Second
Senior All-American anchor Kaela Edwards received the baton in sixth place and was about six seconds behind the leader when they entered the final lap. That’s when she began to make her move.
Summoning an unbelievable burst of energy after mowing down five other teams, Edwards made up serious ground on Georgetown anchor Sarah Schmidt, but ran out of real estate as she charged down the homestretch. She posted a 2:00.83 split against Schmidt’s 2:05.46 to finish about three tenths of a second after the Hoya.
Georgetown’s Splits: Heather Martin (2:07.98), Sabrina Southerland (2:06.35), Emma Keenan (2:06.27), Sarah Schmidt (2:05.46) = 8:26.02
Oklahoma State’s Splits: Kaylee Dodd (2:06.76), Clara Nichols (2:08.79), Anna Boyert (2:10.00), Kaela Edwards (2:00.83) = 8:26.34
The Lyles Brothers Shine in Boys 4x100m, 4x400m for T.C. Williams
Noah and Josephus Lyles delivered outstanding performances in the Championship of America boys 4x100 and 4x400 to help T.C. Williams High School (VA) earn third in both events. In the boys 4x400, Noah and Josephus turned in splits of 45.6 and 46.19, respectively, in a relay that recorded the fastest time among American high schools, but couldn’t match the depth of the Jamaican teams. The same situation occurred in the boys 4x100, where the Lyles brothers torched the track on the straights, but couldn’t catch Calabar or Kingston College.
The Lyles brothers are separated by one year in age, and have both committed to run for Florida.
T.C. Williams’ Splits: Trekel Lockett (50.9), Noah Lyles (45.6), Mahlique Booth (50.85), Josephus Lyles (46.19) = 3:13.55
Centenarian Ida Keeling Breaks 100m World Record for Her Age Group
Ida Keeling of Harlem is the fastest-ever 100-year-old, and she now has a world record to prove it. Keeling was the oldest person to contest the masters mixed 100m dash for those aged 80 and older, and set what will likely be a longstanding record for 100-year-old women at 1:17.33.
Her closest competition was 99-year-old Champ Goldy, who finished in 45.70. Ed Cox, 88, won the event in a remarkable 17.85.