PHILADELPHIA – On the second day of the 126th Penn Relays, the Georgetown University track & field team put up two strong lineups in the Championship of America Distance Medley Relays (DMR). As both the men's and women's fields found a new gear, the Hoyas couldn't fend them off, finishing fifth in the men's and seventh in the women's DMR.
ON THE RECORD
"We lined up two very competitive teams in the DMR today and fell short unfortunately. I think our men's team ran a tough race, and were right in it with 400 to go. We can't ask for much more than that. We'll regroup and get ready to line up in the 4xMile and 4x800 on the men's side and the 4x1,500 and 4x800 for the women." - Director of Track & Field / Cross Country
Alton McKenzie
HOYA HIGHLIGHTS
- The foursome of Jack Salisbury (1,200m), Joshua Paige (400m), Tim McInerney (800m) and Matthew Payamps (1,600m) took on the men's COA DMR field. Salisbury was solid through the first 800 meters and on his final lap, staved off a surging field to hand off in second place. Paige made moves in the early part of his stanza but the field hit the gas a bit later and the Hoyas were in fourth through the second handoff. McInerney recorded the second-fastest 800-meter split (1:48.26) on the day to move the Hoyas back into second before Payamps' anchor. The final leg slowed it down as the pack came back together. At the bell, Payamps was with the top group but as the anchors started to find their final gear, Payamps slipped back and the Hoyas finished fifth (9:32.21).
- Georgetown competed in the Championship of America Women's DMR with Sami Corman handling the leadoff leg. She was strong through the opening 800 of her 1,200 meters, but while balancing the need to create some space while also staying toward the front, Corman slipped back a couple spots through the first handoff. Maya Drayton did some quick work on her 400-meter leg, moving the Hoyas up one spot before Chloe Gonzalez took over the 800-meter third leg. Gonzalez kept the Hoyas in the mix before Melissa Riggins took over the anchor leg. Riggins started to pick off runners and moved the Hoyas up three spots over the course of her frame to seventh as the Hoyas timed in at 11:12.12. Riggins closed out her frame faster than the anchors from both Providence and Villanova.
- Chloe Williams recorded a mark of 5.60m (18' 4 ¼") to finish 15th in the women's long jump.
- Christopher Pitt competed in the men's long jump where he recorded a 6.73m (22' 1") to place 14th.
UP NEXT
- The Hoyas will return to historic Franklin Field for the final day of the 126th Penn Relays on Saturday, April 30.
- On deck for Saturday will be the Championship of America Women's 4x1,500-Meter Relay at 12:30 p.m. The Championship of America Men's 4xMile will start at 1:10 p.m. The Hoya men have twice captured the title, most recently in 1991 (when it was a 4x1,500m) and in 1966.
- Next up will be the Championship of America 4x800-meter relay with the women competing at 2:47 p.m. and the men at 3:02 p.m. The Hoya women have won four wheels in the event, most recently in 2016. The GU men have 11 wheels in the event and are the defending champions having won it in 2019 at the last running of the Penn Relays.
