Texas A&M
Penn Relay Carnival
A&M women lead qualifying in 4x1, 4x4 at Penn Relay Carnival
Apr 28, 2011 | Track and Field
April 28, 2011
PHILADELPHIA - Texas A&M women posted the fastest qualifying times in two relay events during qualifying rounds Thursday, the first day of the 117th Penn Relay Carnival at historic Franklin Field. With rain delaying the meet twice, it didn't detour a crowd of 22,750 fans from enjoying the meet.
In the late evening distance races James Hodges recorded the eighth fastest time in school history over 5,000 meters with a time of 14:20.87 to place sixth in the Olympic Development race.
The men's College 5,000 had MacLean O'Donnell placing sixth with a 14:32.04, which just missed making the A&M all-time top 10. Natosha Rogers finished 10th in the women's 3,000 with a clocking of 9:40.10.
Texas A&M led qualifying in the 4 x 100 prelims, which are run without starting blocks, posting a time of 43.67 seconds with the foursome of Gabby Mayo, Jeneba Tarmoh, Dominique Duncan and Ashley Collier. In their heat the Aggies defeated Florida (45.43) and Jamaica's G.C. Foster (45.68).
A&M also led the 4 x 400 qualifying with a time of 3:34.57 from the quartet of Donique' Flemings (54.2) and Jessica Beard (52.5). In the first heat Florida was runner-up to the Aggies again with a 3:39.31 while Central Florida placed third in 3:40.00.
Two-time defending Penn Relays champions in the 4 x 100, Texas A&M had to wait out a thunderstorm that passed the area at the time the college sprint relays were supposed to start. Two weather delays had the Aggies on the track nearly two hours after their scheduled start.
Joining A&M in the Championship of America 4 x 100 final, which will be held on Friday, are Central Florida (43.79), LSU (44.21), Houston, (44.41), South Carolina (44.78), Auburn (44.82), Clemson (44.95) and Tennessee (45.20).
Just missing the Championships final, and stationed in the College final, were TCU (45.38), Florida, Foster, and Virginia Tech (45.60).
After posting winning times of 43.10 (2009) and 43.09 (2010), Texas A&M could become just the second school to win the Penn Relays 4 x 100 three consecutive years. LSU had a winning streak of four straight years from 1995-1998.
Among the top 10 collegiate times recorded at the Penn Relays, the Aggies (4) and LSU (5) split the list with Texas holding one mark. The Tigers hold the record of 42.59 while A&M is second with a 42.69 and also has the 6th-7th-8th best times.
Making the eight-team field with the Aggies for the Championship of America final on Saturday were Texas (3:35.73), LSU (3:35.79), Penn State (3:38.06), TCU (3:38.06), Jacksonville (3:39.18), Florida and Mississippi State (3:39.77).
Texas A&M, the NCAA Indoor champion in March, has never won the 4 x 400 at Penn Relays. Likewise, the Aggies had never won a Texas Relays title in this event, but a 49.6 anchor by Beard earned A&M its first-ever title earlier this month with a world-leading time of 3:27.33 making the Aggies the fourth-fastest collegiate team ever.
Heptathlete Daphne Fitzpatrick placed fourth in the college high jump as she missed three times attempting to clear her career best of 5-8.75 (1.75), which she set in winning this event a year ago.
Gusting winds swirled in the horseshoe portion of the Franklin Field stadium where the high jump was contested.
"I had a good warm-up, but my approach run was a little off during the competition," noted Fitzpatrick. "We had better conditions when I won last year."
Indiana's Emma Kimoto was the only entrant to clear 5-8.75 for the victory. Second through fifth place all finished with a clearance of 5-7.75 (1.72).
Misses dictated where those four athletes placed. Megan Schubert of Louisville finished second by clearing 5-7.75 on one attempt. Jeannelle Scheper placed third with one miss. Fitzpatrick needed two attempts at a pair of heights while Minnesota's Natalie Devine finished fifth after she needed three attempts at 5-7.75.
In the college division long jump three Aggies placed in the field of 23 jumpers. Lisa Steinkamp was eighth with a mark of 19-2.75 (5.86), Sasha-Kay Matthias finished ninth with the same distance, and Tiffany Peters was 15th with an 18-5 effort.
Friday's action for Texas A&M includes four field events with the men's high jump and long jump along with the women's triple jump. Individual events on the track include prelims for the men's 100, women's 100 hurdles, and men's 110 hurdles.
In the relays the A&M men go through qualifying rounds in the 4 x 100, 4 x 200 and 4 x 400. Relay finals include the women's 4 x 100, women's shuttle hurdles and the sprint medley for both men and women.
Players Mentioned
