PHILADELPHIA – Texas A&M Track & Field's Debora Cherono and Victor Kibiego swept the 3,000m steeplechase titles on the opening day of the Penn Relays Thursday at Franklin Field.
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Cherono captured the Aggie women's first 3,000m steeplechase Penn Relays title, as she broke her own school record with a personal-best time of 9:57.07. Her mark makes her the first member of the Maroon & White to run sub-10 minutes in the event and moves her up to No. 14 in the country this year. Kennady Fontenot also shined, securing third place also with career-best time of 10:00.93. Her mark was also ahead of the previous school record and now improves her time at the No. 2 spot in the A&M history books.
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Following suit right after was Kibiego on the men's side of the event, as he ensured the sweep of the steeplechase titles after crossing the line in 8:37.33. His victory marks the Aggies' second in the event in their history, and first in 10 years. The junior now ranks top-20 in the country this year in the event.
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Jack Johnston clocked a top-five mark on the A&M all-time list in the 5,000m, as he crossed the line in 13:48.57 which puts him at No. 5 in history and landed him 16th in the meet. Megan Roberts also competed in the women's event, recording a mark of 16:17.22 which was good for 17th.
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Diego Heredia paced the men's 1,500m contingent, taking seventh in the events with a time of 3:45.45. He was followed by Ondrej Gajdos (3:47.07) and Gilbert Rono (3:48.44) who finished 14th and 22nd, respectively. On the women's side of the event, Elise Smoot finished 32nd in 4:23.72.
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Maddie Livingston rounded out the opening day in Philadelphia, as she finished 16th in the women's 10,000m with a time of 35:06.46.
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Next Up
The Aggies return to Franklin Field tomorrow for the second day of the Penn Relays.
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To learn more about Texas A&M Track & Field/Cross Country, visit 12thMan.com and follow @aggietfxc.
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Cherono captured the Aggie women's first 3,000m steeplechase Penn Relays title, as she broke her own school record with a personal-best time of 9:57.07. Her mark makes her the first member of the Maroon & White to run sub-10 minutes in the event and moves her up to No. 14 in the country this year. Kennady Fontenot also shined, securing third place also with career-best time of 10:00.93. Her mark was also ahead of the previous school record and now improves her time at the No. 2 spot in the A&M history books.
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Following suit right after was Kibiego on the men's side of the event, as he ensured the sweep of the steeplechase titles after crossing the line in 8:37.33. His victory marks the Aggies' second in the event in their history, and first in 10 years. The junior now ranks top-20 in the country this year in the event.
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Jack Johnston clocked a top-five mark on the A&M all-time list in the 5,000m, as he crossed the line in 13:48.57 which puts him at No. 5 in history and landed him 16th in the meet. Megan Roberts also competed in the women's event, recording a mark of 16:17.22 which was good for 17th.
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Diego Heredia paced the men's 1,500m contingent, taking seventh in the events with a time of 3:45.45. He was followed by Ondrej Gajdos (3:47.07) and Gilbert Rono (3:48.44) who finished 14th and 22nd, respectively. On the women's side of the event, Elise Smoot finished 32nd in 4:23.72.
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Maddie Livingston rounded out the opening day in Philadelphia, as she finished 16th in the women's 10,000m with a time of 35:06.46.
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Next Up
The Aggies return to Franklin Field tomorrow for the second day of the Penn Relays.
Â
To learn more about Texas A&M Track & Field/Cross Country, visit 12thMan.com and follow @aggietfxc.