Multiple Wheaton track and field athletes compete at 110th running of Penn Relays

April 24, 2004

PHILADELPHIA, PA- The Wheaton College men's and women's outdoor track and field teams sent several of its athletes to the 110th running of the University of Pennsylvania's Penn Relays held at Franklin Field. The nation's oldest and largest relay carnival brought over 22,000 participants with record-setting crowds over the three-day event.

The Lyons enjoyed several NCAA Division III national meet provisional qualifying standards, which included an outstanding individual performance from junior Stan Pyle (South Portland, ME/South Portland) in the 5,000-meter run. Bettering his school-record time by an impressive 14 seconds, Pyle placed 12th overall among several Division I athletes in 14:36.82. Classmate Dan Olson (Voorheesville, NY/Albany Academy) also exceeded a provisional qualifying mark in the high jump, finishing in a tie for fourth place with a clearance of 6' 11".

Rounding out the men's performances was Wheaton's 4x100-meter relay team, as senior Tyrone McClain (New Haven, CT/Hillhouse), sophomore Ajay Sisodia (Andover, MA/Andover) and freshmen Jonathan Geffrard (Brooklyn, NY/Poly Prep CDS) and Thomas Simmons (New Bedford, MA/New Bedford) missed a provisional qualifier by 72-hundredths of a second. The Lyons placed fourth in their heat with a time of 42.71.

The 4x400-meter relay was the Wheaton women's strong suit Thursday afternoon, as senior Amber James (Woodbury, MN/Woodbury), junior Jessica Allegra (East Hampton, CT/East Hampton), sophomore Oly Wirtz (Fitchburg, MA/Fitchburg) and freshman Alison Amendola (Franklin, MA/Franklin) posted their fastest time of the spring season. Finishing second in their heat, the Lyons reached a national meet provisional qualifying time of 3:51.44.

Other provisional qualifying marks took place on the field, as juniors Kirsten Larsen (Hampden, MA/Minnechaug Regional) and Kathrine Wallace (Glenmoore, PA/The Hill School) had strong performances in the javelin throw and high jump events, respectively. Larsen placed seventh with a distance of 139' 7", while Wallace was 12th with a height of 5' 4 1/2".

Rounding out the list of Wheaton athletes that competed at the Penn Relays were freshmen Jennifer Harlow (East Bridgewater, MA/East Bridgewater) and Crystal Blamy (Walpole, NH/Fall Mountain View) in the high jump and first-year Katelyn Teixeira (Seekonk, MA/Seekonk) in the javelin.

Last updated on 5/2/04.
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