PHILADELPHIA – The final day of the 126th Penn Relays, the first time since 2019 the event was held, saw the Hoyas fighting hard in a pair of Championship of America races each for both the men and women. The crowd at Franklin Field saw a record-breaking race in the women's 4x1,500-meter relay and less than six-tenths of a second separated the top four teams in the 4xMile.
ON THE RECORD
"What a weekend here at Penn Relays. The atmosphere was unbelievable and that energy was felt as our men contended in the 4xMile Championship of America race. Our first three legs gave our anchor a chance for the win, but we came up just short, finishing fourth, a little over a half second from the winners. Not the result we wanted but we gave ourselves a chance and that's all we can ask for. I think they all competed hard and we're extremely proud of the effort from the entire team. Looking forward to getting back to preparations for the postseason.
"Our women mixed it up with some of the best in the country and were part of the fastest collegiate 4x1,500m race ever run. We'll learn from the experience and be better having been a part of such a historic race." - Director of Track & Field / Cross Country
Alton McKenzie
HOYA HIGHLIGHTS
- Georgetown was in the lead for most of the anchor leg, but as a surging pack closed on the bell lap, the Hoyas could not hold on, clocking 16:18.04 for fourth place, less than six-tenths of a second behind winner Texas (16:17.45). Abel Teffra ran the leadoff leg for the Blue & Gray, staying close to the front as he handed off in fourth. Camden Gilmore was on the second leg and provided a 4:01.62 split to catapult the Blue & Gray to the front. Parker Stokes took on the third leg, holding GU's lead that he inherited and handing off to Jack Salisbury for the anchor. Salisbury maintained for much of his frame but as the bell hit and the field made moves, Salisbury slipped to fourth.
- In the women's 4x1,500-meter relay, the Hoyas were part of the chase pack in what turned out to be a record-setting race. Chloe Gonzalez led off for the Blue & Gray and as the field thinned out, Gonzalez kept the Hoyas in the lead pack. Sami Corman took over the second leg and while the Hoyas were still in the top half, NC State and Arkansas started to break ahead after the second exchange. Maggie Donahue handled the third leg and Melissa Riggins was on the anchor as the Hoyas managed their way in the chase pack to finish sixth (17:32.97).
- For the men, Lucas Guerra led off for Georgetown, splitting 1:51.99, as Houston attempted to pressure the field late in the first stanza. Tim McInerney was on the second leg and able to push the Hoyas up to fourth with a split of 1:48.53. The place would hold through the third and fourth legs as Theo Woods and Matthew Payamps were on the third and fourth legs, respectively, with Payamps' 1:49.93 split enough to hold on for fourth.
- The women's 4x800-meter relay saw Rachel Sessa on the leadoff leg. She handed off in fourth, splitting 2:10.05 to open the race. Renee Newton was on the second leg and her 2:07.45 was the best split of the foursome. Kiera Bothwell took over the third frame while Sierra Dinneen's anchor pushed the Blue & Gray up two spots to eighth (8:39.36).
UP NEXT
- The Hoyas return to the DMV and will compete at the University of Maryland Kehoe Twilight Meet on Friday, May 6 with a 5 p.m. start.
