Michigan women's Distance Medley Relay squad - Nicole Edwards, Geena Gall, Serita Williams and Danielle Tauro (© Kirby Lee)
It will be hard for the University of Michigan women to match their performance of the 2007 Penn Relays when the Wolverines set collegiate records in the 4x1500m and 4x800m Relays.
Michigan, though, got off to a good start with a win in the Championship of America Distance Medley Relay in 10:49.58, the No. 2 time in meet history, in the opening session of the 114th Penn Relays at the University of Pennsylvania's Franklin Field on Thursday (April 24).
Michigan's mark trails only Villanova's 10:48.38 clocking in 1988 on the all-time Penn Relays list.
Thursday's race in sunny and warm temperatures turned into a two-team duel with Tennessee after Michgan legs by Danielle Tauro (3:22.2), Serita Williams (53.4), Geena Gall (2:02.1) and Nicole Edwards (CAN) (4:31.9).
Edwards outsprinted Sarah Bowman of Tennessee in the final 100m in the 1600m anchor leg for the win. Tennessee finished second in 10:50.51 for the No. 4 time in meet history. Stanford was third despite a fall by first leg Alicia Follmar, who suffered a head laceration and was bleeding profusely.
Gall and Edwards are the only two returnees from Michigan's collegiate setting relays at Penn last year. Gall, Edwards and Tauro will run in the 4x1500m Relay today while Williams is catching a flight back to Ann Arbor today to attend graduation on Saturday.
"It's pretty amazing to set two collegiate records," Gall said. "We knew coming in that we wouldn't have the team but we did a tremendous job. I am so proud of everyone."
Texas A&M and LSU lead Women's 4x100m Relay Qualifying
Friday's's women's 4x100m Relay final looks to be another battle between Texas A&M and world-leader Louisiana State University.
Texas A&M defeated LSU in the Texas Relays on 3 April, 42.97 to 43.10, in the then two-fastest times of the year. LSU took over the No. 1 spot with a 42.84 clocking last week.
A Texas A&M quartet of Allison George (GNR), Porscha Lucas, Simone Facey (JAM) and Gabby Mayo had the top qualifying time at 43.40. LSU had the No. 2 mark with a team of Brooklyn Morris, Samantha Henry (JAM), Juanita Broadus and Kelly-Ann Baptiste (TRI) cruising to a 43.54 heat win for the second-best mark.
Penn State (3:33.40) and South Carolina led the women's 4x400m Relay qualifying.
In evening distance events, Anthony Famiglietti won the 3000m Steeplechase won in 8:24.34 to improve on his U.S. leading 8:26.94 set at the Mt. San Antonio College Relays on 18 April.
In the college 5000m, Stephane Furst of North Carolina State edged Daniel Kanyaruhuru (KEN) of Queens/Charlotte, 13:49.19 to 13:49.29. Evans Kigen (KEN) of Liberty was the college 10,000m in 29:16.12.
Two high school records for Morgan
Stephanie Morgan of Barnesville (OH) won the girls' high school mile in a meet-record 4:41.22 and also set a new standard en route in the 1500m - an event run at Penn from 1980-97 - in 4:22.99.
Abigail Schaefer of Easton Area (PA) set a meet record of 3.98m in the girls Pole Vault and Kathleen McCafferty of Oak Knoll (NJ) was the girls' 3000m winner in 9:37.15.
Kirby Lee for the IAAF
