PHILADELPHIA – The Georgetown University track & field team took fourth place in the women's distance medley relay (DMR) on Thursday to open the 125th running of the Penn Relays Carnival at historic Franklin Field on Penn's campus. On a day that saw a crowd of 24,463 fans come through the event, Josette Norris (Tenafly, N.Y. / Tenafly / North Carolina) ran the second-fastest 1,600-meter carry in program history to help the Hoyas to the fourth-place showing.
 
"We are thrilled with the women's DMR tonight especially with Josette's leg," Director of Track & Field / Cross Country Julie Culley said. "She is competing at a historically elite level running the second-fastest 1,600m carry in school history. We put a relay with three freshmen and a fifth year on the track and they handled themselves like veterans. We are so pleased with how they kicked off the weekend."
 
Sami Corman (Bellevue, Wash. / Issaquah) led off for the Blue & Gray, splitting 3:28.77 over the first 1,200 meters as the Hoyas stayed with the lead pack. Tamiya Roberts (Powder Springs, Ga. / McEachern) took over the 400-meter leg, splitting 56.51 over her one time around. Cathilyn McIntosh (Loomis, Calif. / Del Oro) managed 2:08.10 on the 800-meter leg before Norris took over the anchor. Norris, receiving the baton in sixth, quickly picked off some competition and moved into a comfortable third for much of her leg. Norris clocked 4:33.40 over the 1,600-meter leg to help the Hoyas to a time of 11:06.77.
 
Penn Relays distance night saw the Hoyas notch a couple of personal records (PRs) as well as top showings against tough competition across the board. Rusty Kudych (Feasterville Trevose, Pa. / Neshaminy), no stranger to the Relays hailing from the Philadelphia suburbs, ran a big PR in the men's 5,000-meter run where he finished 11th (14:15.69) and Meg Mahison's (Middleton, Wis. / Waunakee) 10:24.04 in the women's 3,000-meter steeplechase was also a PR and good enough for sixth.
 
In the men's 10,000-meter run, Jack Van Scoter (Pasadena, Calif. / Flintridge Prep) turned in the best finish of the night as he placed fourth, clocking 29:55.76.
 
The Hoyas return to action on Friday with day two of the 125th Penn Relays Carnival at historic Franklin Field.
 
Penn Relays Results – Thursday
Women's Distance Medley Relay – Championship of America
4. Sami Corman (3:28.77) / Tamiya Roberts (56.51) / Cathilyn McIntosh (2:08.10) / Josette Norris (4:33.40), 11:06.77
 
Men's 5,000-Meter Run
11. Rusty Kujdych, 14:15.69 [PR]
 
Men's 10,000-Meter Run
4. Jack Van Scoter, 29:55.76
13. Johnathan Chavez, 30:44.18
23. Reilly Bloomer, 31:13.53
26. Dylan Scarsone, 31:24.56
 
Men's 3,000-Meter Steeplechase
20. Price Owens, 9:10.70
 
Women's 3,000-Meter Steeplechase
6. Meg Mathison, 10:24.04 [PR]
17. Katie Dammer, 10:43.15
21. Katherine Modrall, 10:47.50
30. Rachel Sessa, 11:08.80
 
Women's 4x400-Meter Heats
37. Tamiya Roberts / Cathilyn McIntosh / Lexi Del Gizzo (57.78) / Olivia Arizin (58.86), 3:54.49
 
Penn Relay Schedule – Friday
11 am. – College Women's Triple Jump
12:30 p.m. – College Men's 4x100m Relay (Heats)
1:55 p.m. – College Women's 4x200m Relay Championship of America
3:30 p.m. – Men's College Long Jump
4:15 p.m. – College Men's 4x400m Relay (Heats)
5:15 p.m. – College Men's Distance Medley Relay Championship of America
6:25 p.m. – College Men's Sprint Medley Relay Championship of America