What is the oldest track meet in the world? The largest in the world? The home to the first ever relay races? The home to the first permanent stadium? The meet where more athletes have run than any other? The answer is the Penn Relays, which takes place this week at historic Franklin Field at the University of Pennsylvnia.
On the high school level, Thursday was all about the girls side. Katie Buenaga of Tatnall took the lead in the Distance Medley Championship of America with a 3:33 and the team never looked back, winning by a comfortable 9 seconds. Jillian Smith, the anchor for Southern Regional's heavily favored relay team, was able to move her side into 2nd with a 4:53.8 1600m despite a heavily publicized injury just last week. Shenendehowa, the number two seed, finished 3rd at 12:06.
1. Tatnall 11:49.37
2. Southern Regional 11:58.74
3. Shenendehowa 12:06.26
4. South Brunswick 12:09.77
5. Lake Braddock 12:12.08
6. Saratoga Springs 12:13.27
7. Bronxville 12:14.56
Tatnall, winners if the High School Girl's Distance Medley Relay Championship of America.
The High School Girls' Mile Run Championship wasn't much of a contest either. Sophomore Chelsey Sveinsson of Greenhill school won easily with a 4:46.85. Natalie Bower of Greater Latrobe was second in 4:59.25, and Charlene Lipsey of Hempstead took third in 5:00.50.
Chelsey Sveinsson takes the girl's mile.
The high school girl's 3000m was a much closer race. Stephanie Morgan, who ran a Penn Relays record 4:41 in the mile last year, won this year's 3k. Emily Jones was less than a second behind in second place, and Suffern's Shelby Greaney was close behind in third.
1 Stephanie Morgan Barnesville (Barnesville, OH) 9:31.32
2 Emily Jones Bromfield School (Harvard, MA) 9:32.22
3 Shelby Greany Suffern (Suffern, NY) 9:35.42
4 Aisling Cuffe Cornwall (New Windsor, NY) 9:45.82
5 Emily Lipari Roslyn (Roslyn, NY) 9:50.96
6 Melanie Thompson Voorhees (Glen Gardner, NJ) 9:51.72
7 Samantha Nadel North Shore (Glen Head, NY) 9:51.80
Winner's Table (Championship Running Events Only):
College Women's 400m Hurdles Championship Fawn Dorr Penn State 0:57.78
High School Girls' 400m Hurdles Championship Nikita Tracey Edwin Allen 0:57.44
College Women's Distance Medley Relay Tennessee 11:02.11
College Men's 3000m Steeplechase Scott Macpherson Arkansas 8:44.64
College Women's 3000m Danielle Tauro Michigan 9:33.18
College Women's 3000m Steeplechase Stephanie Pancoast Cornell 10:30.46
College Men's 5000m Jon Anderson Army 13:58.23
College Women's 5000m Jackie Aerson Tennessee 16:11.71
College Men's 10000m Amos Sang Abilene C. 29:34.21
College Women's 10000m Megan Hogan GWU 33:55.23
