Texas A&M
Penn Relay Carnival
A&M women set another collegiate record, men defend 4x1 at Penn
Apr 24, 2010 | Track and Field
April 24, 2010
PHILADELPHIA - Titles defenses were successful for Texas A&M in the men's 4 x 100 and women`s 4 x 200 on the final day of the 116th Penn Relay Carnival at historic Franklin Field. The Aggie women added another collegiate record to its collection in the claiming a third consecutive 800-meter title.
For the three-day weekend Texas A&M tallied four Championship of America titles in relay events and added a pair of individual titles in college division jump events. Saturday's events also included runner-up efforts for the men's 4 x 400, Zuheir Sharif in the men's triple jump.
"It was a big day for Texas A&M," said Aggie head coach Pat Henry. "We can't be any more pleased with our sprinters than we are right now."
With an appearance by Jamaica's Usain Bolt in the 4 x 100 bringing out even the casual observer, Penn Relays enjoyed a record attendance day with 54,310 fans. It bettered the previous mark of 50,827 set in 2002.
The three-day attendance at the Carnival totaled a record 117,346 to top the previous mark of 114,194 set in 2006.
"It's good for track and field," noted Henry. "It's a good thing to happen here. It's great to see this many people supporting our sport."
Texas A&M turned in stellar performances in the added spotlight. The men won the sprint relay in 39.08 and then the women blistered a 1:29.42 to break the collegiate record of 1:29.78 set by LSU in 2003. The Aggies also claimed the Penn Relays and Franklin Field records.
Gabby Mayo was named the Penn Relays college women's athlete of the meet for relay events. Mayo ran on three winning relays teams for the Aggies, the 4×100 (43.09) and shuttle hurdles (52.50) on Friday, and then the 4×200 (1:29.42) on Saturday.
"I'm so happy and excited," Mayo said. "I was nervous being on the 4 x 200 today, but we did everything we had to do and we came out on top again."
Mayo ran the second leg of the 4 x 200, which was led off by Porscha Lucas carried it home on the anchor leg. "We did what we had to do to get this title and the record," Tarmoh said. "I'm very proud of what we accomplished here this weekend. I love having a crowd like this and the enthusiasm that fills the stadium. It helps you run so much faster."
Auburn challenged the Aggies early, but a miscue on the second exchange slowed the Tigers a bit. Auburn finished second in 1:31.59 while LSU placed third in 1:31.70. The rest of the field included Houston (1:32.89), Clemson (1:33.84), Hampton (1:34.29) and Pittsburgh (1:35.29).
"The crowd really got us excited to run today," Beard stated. "I think we used the positive energy to our advantage.
"I just stayed focused and made sure Gabby and I got the stick exchanged while Auburn had problem with the exchange zone. We knew Auburn and LSU were going to be our main competition. So I just wanted to do my part and get the stick to Porscha in the lead."
Lucas, who has been part of five Penn Relay victories, added: "I never thought I'd have this many watches from winning relay events at the Penn Relays. I'm happy I do. It's very memorable to leave here with a collegiate record."
The A&M crew of Curtis Mitchell cruised to victory in the 4 x 100, as their 39.08 easily held off University Tech of Jamaica, second in 39.88, and LSU, third with a 39.98.
"It's great to get a win," Mitchell stated. "We were focused on defending the title and everything went well for us in the 4 x 100."
Howell noted: "I was excited to be here today, but I knew everyone was coming after us. The crowd got me pumped up and I wasn't going to let my teammates down.
"Once I passed the baton to Gerald and saw that he was in first I knew everything was going to go good. I have trust in my team."
Current collegiate leader Florida did not finish the race while TCU placed fourth in 40.09 ahead of Miami (40.35), Kentucky (40.42) and Maryland-Eastern Shore (40.53).
"It's a privilege to be with the team I'm on right now," Pinder said. "Everyone is running at their full ability, so I knew I had to come through for my teammates.
Phiri added: "The handoff between Tran and I was probably the worse of the relay today. I almost left early, but when I decided not to then Tran was right there. I knew I had to make up for it on the backstretch.
"Fortunately I was able to close the gap on Florida's Jeremy Hall. Pinder got out very well for our exchange and did very well. Then it comes down to Curtis and he gets the job done. It's amazing to win a relay race here with the crowd's reaction."
In the men's 4 x 400 the Aggies came agonizingly close to it's fifth relay victory of the weekend. Even with Mississippi State as the race reached the anchor leg, a dropped baton between Curtis Mitchell and Tabarie Henry hampered A&M.
Henry still challenged Mississippi State anchor Emmanuel Mayers on the final lap of the race. Henry maneuvered A&M from a distant third to second place by the 200-meter mark. Then he went after Mayers through the curve and kept closing the distance to the finish line.
Mayers, who split 47.03, just managed to hold off Henry for a win in 3:04.92 while the Aggies settled for second in 3:05.04. The anchor leg for Henry was faster than the 46.53 credited to him in the results, but that includes the time the baton was on the track.
Tran Howell (47.1) and Bryan Miller (45.8) covered the first two legs for A&M against the Mississippi State duo of O'Neal Wilder (46.5) and Tavaris Tate (45.2). Mitchell turned in a split of 45.66 to pull even with the Bulldogs, who had a third leg carry of 46.20 from Dwight Mullings. South Carolina finished third in 3:06.45 with UTech fourth at 3:06.55.
A day after anchoring A&M to a collegiate record in the shuttle hurdles, Natasha Ruddock produced a career best time of 12.87 seconds in the 100 hurdles as runner-up to a 12.61 from Virginia Tech's Queen Harrison.
"Coach told me to push out hard and when I got to the sixth hurdle I felt I was right there," Ruddock said. "My start was so awesome, the best ever. I just need to keep working on the last part of my race and I'll be good.
Finishing behind Ruddock was Kristi Castlin, also of Virginia Tech, in 12.94 with Ti'erra Brown of Miami also clocking 12.94 in fourth place.
Ruddock lowered her personal best from 12.97 and is now the No. 2 performer on the A&M all-time list with the third-best performance.
"I felt at home out here with so many Jamaicans in the crowd," Ruddock noted. "I just wanted to make them proud, because they knew I was in there. Seeing all that green and gold in the stands is so beautiful."
Zuheir Sharif placed second in the triple jump with a leap of 52-5.5 (15.99) while Melvin Echard finished seventh with a 51-4.25 (15.65). Florida's Omar Craddock won the event with a 53-3.5 (16.24) effort.
An anchor split of 51.05 from Jessica Beard pulled the Aggie women from sixth to third in the 4 x 400. Texas A&M posted a 3:32.86 behind a 3:31.54 from UTech and a 3:32.34 for Oregon.
Donique' Flemings (53.3) and Ashika Charan (53.28).
Rounding out the field in the women's 4 x 400 were Penn State (3:33.06), Texas (3:34.02), Arkansas (3:35.77), LSU (3:35.79) and Auburn (3:36.33).
In attempting to defend the men's 4 x 200 title, the Aggies were hampered by an injury to Curtis Mitchell, who charged to the finish line to nab fourth place for A&M in 1:22.31.
"The men's 4 x 200 was running very fast," Coach Henry said. "Too bad that Pinder hurt himself a little bit. We were lucky just to get the stick around."
Mississippi State won the 4 x 200 in 1:21.49 with Florida second in 1:21.53 and South Carolina third at 1:22.21.
In another relay final the Aggies finished seventh in the 4 x 800, running a time of 7:22.21 with the foursome of Sam Mutschler (1:52.02), Oscar Ramirez (1:48.32), Michael Preble (1:51.61) and Joey Roberts (1:50.29). Virginia won the race in 7:15.38 over Oregon (7:15.55). Texas was eighth behind A&M in 7:23.47.
Texas A&M broke the school record of 7:26.63 in the 4 x 800, which was set in 1987 by the foursome of Maurice Holt, Derek Green, Larry Payton and Matt Dunn.
Players Mentioned
