PHILADELPHIA – On a rain-soaked track the Georgetown University men's track & field team won the Championship of America Sprint Medley Relay Presented by Team Jamaica Bickle at the 125th running of the Penn Relays Carnival. Despite a pair of lightning delays and rain for much of the evening, Franklin Field on Penn's campus welcomed 38,003 fans to the penultimate day of events. The Georgetown men team captured its 25th Championship of America title and fourth in the SMR.
 
The foursome of Nate Alleyne (Downingtown, Pa. / Bishop Shanahan), D'Andre Barriffe (Jamaica, N.Y. / Bishop Loughlin Memorial), All-American Lawrence Leake (Huntington, N.Y. / Huntington) and All-American Joe White (Clifton, N.J. / DePaul Catholic) clocked 3:17.53 to win the SMR (200m / 200m / 400m / 800m).
 
"This was a fantastic race," Director of Track & Field / Cross Country Julie Culley said. "This is the race that we thought would be our best possible performance this year. We've come very close to winning a title the last few years but we have come up short so when we put together this group, we made sure we stacked it as much as we could."
 
Alleyne and Barriffe kept the Hoyas among the top contenders through the first lap around the track. Leake split 48.2, his fastest outdoor carry, before setting up White on the anchor. White was patient through his leg, holding until the back straightaway to start moving up as the pack pulled South Carolina's anchor in going into the final turn at the famed Wall of Fame. White hit his stride and he surged up the final straightaway and held off Indiana's anchor for the win.
 
"Things went in our favor tonight but it didn't come without extraordinary performances from all four guys," Culley continued. "The two 200-meter legs setting up Lawrence, who ran the best outdoor 400-meter split of his career and then Joe running a beautifully tactical race. He did an incredible job of executing and pulling it together for us at the end. It's a huge performance for him. It was awesome for the younger guys who led him into that position but for him to walk away at the end of his fifth year with a Championship of America wheel is just an awesome way to cap off his career – a great day for the guys."
 
Earlier in the day the Hoyas looked to veteran and All-American Spencer Brown (Wilton, Conn. / Wilton) to lead off the men's distance medley relay (DMR) on Friday night. Following the second delay of the day, Brown kept the Hoyas within striking distance following his 1,200-meter leg. At times contending for the top spot, Brown handed off to All-American Kenny Rowe (Cockeysville, Md. / Loyola Blakefield) for the 400-meter stanza. Rowe's one lap kept the Hoyas among the top three before All-American Ruach Padhal (London, Ontario / John Paul II Catholic) made moves over his frame. At the exchange, Padhal positioned himself up into second and at the start of his second and final lap, Padhal easily took over the lead, one he would hold through the final handoff. All-American Nick Wareham (Woodbury, Minn. / Woodbury) anchored the squad and the pace slowed down for the final 1,600 meters. As the field came back together, Wareham found himself on the inside against the rail. On the bell lap as others made moves early, Wareham remained steady and off the final turn, hit his stride through the home straightaway as the Blue & Gray finished fifth, clocking 9:49.30.
 
In the men's 4x100-meter heats, the foursome of Josiah Laney (Sylmar, Calif. / Granada Hills), Alleyne, Barriffe and Leake clocked 41.33 to advance to the college final of the event on Saturday.
 
The Hoyas return to action on Saturday for the final day of the 125th Penn Relays Carnival at historic Franklin Field.
 
Penn Relay Results – Friday
College Men's Sprint Medley Relay Championship of America
1. Nate Alleyne / D'Andre Barriffe / Lawrence Leake (48.2) / Joe White (1:46.45), 3:17.53
 
College Men's Distance Medley Relay Championship of America
5. Spencer Brown / Kenny Rowe / Ruach Padhal / Nick Wareham, 9:49.30
 
Women's Triple Jump – College Section
12. Eni Akkiniyi, 11.53m [37' 10"]
 
Men's Long Jump – College Section
32. Josiah Laney, 6.33m [20' 9.25"]
 
College Men's 4x100m Relay (Heats)
16. Josiah Laney / Nate Alleyne / D'Andrew Barriffe / Lawrence Leake, 41.33 [advance to College section finals]
 
College Men's 4x400m Relay (Heats)
32. Ethan Delgado / Brennan Munley / Ian Delgado (49.47) / Josiah Laney (50.05), 3:16.98