Let the games begin. The 113th Annual Penn Relays kick off their three days of action Thursday with the top high school girls along the east coast competing in some incredible events. Freshman distance runner Chelsey Sveinsson (TX) leads the way in the distance events, while Ryann Krais (PA) leads the sprint/hurdle fields. In the field events, Karen Shump (PA) looks to break the fifty foot barrier again in the shot put and the relays are stacked as always with strong teams from NY, NJ, MD, PA, VA and the speedsters of Jamaica. MileSplit will be on-site all weekend long providing the best coverage around.
A Penn Relays Preview
Penn Relays: Official Website / Schedule / Entries: Distance Relays - Individual Events
Boys Track Preview
Outside of the relays, the best event on the track this weekend is the boys mile. With seven athletes in the field capable of running 4:10 or faster and winning the race, this should be quite the draw. Kyle Merber (Half Hollow Hills West, NY) and Charles White (Cherry Creek, CO) lead the way as pre-race favorites. Merber tore up the indoor season, winning nearly all his races, including a first at Nike Indoor Nationals. White is equally as strong, with a NSIC win and a big win two weeks ago out at the Arcadia Invitational (CA). This race will be a fast one since White will be looking to break the Colorado state record in the event and will need to dip under 4:10 in order to do so.
Meanwhile, Vince McNally (Conestoga Valley, PA) looks to produce a big mile after his 9:05 3200m effort two weeks back. McNally returns as one of the top milers in the land during 2007, so regaining the nation's top miler spot is pretty intriguing. Cory Leslie (Sandusky-Perkins, OH) hasn't been tested as much this season as perhaps he would have liked, but that is why he is looking to win Penn. Robby Andrews (Manalapan, NJ), Chris Aldrich (Henderson, PA) and Doug Smith (Gill-St. Bernard's) are all looking for big efforts as well.
While the mile is stacked, the 3k offers some intriguing story lines as well. Looking at the start lists, Brandon Jarrett (St. Benedict's, NJ) would enter the race normally as the favorite, however, he had to drop out of the Arcadia Invitational (CA) in thriving pain less than two weeks ago, so his status is uncertain. Johns Ross (The Potomac School, VA), Matt Terry (Danbury, CT) and Mark Dennin (Boyertown, PA) all have a shot at breaking the 8:25 barrer if they run well.
The biggest story of the 3k however will be Solomon Haile (Sherwood, MD). Haile is untested for the most part and has shown some incredible strength in his racing since arriving from Ethiopia early in the school year. Haile won the 5k at Nike Indoor Nationals and ran competitive all weekend long. His first big stage proved successful for the up and comer and his success at Penn could take his growing status to the next level.
In the 400m hurdles, Jamaican stars Keiron Stewart (Kingston College) and his teammate Andre Peart (Kingston College) could be making history this weekend. Both athletes cracked the 51 second barrier in the event at the Jamaican National Championship less than two weeks ago. Stewart won the race in 50.29 while Peart ran 50.44. Both athletes have a shot at breaking the magical 50 second barrier, and while neither can break the U.S national record, both are not too far off of the 49.38 national record. Jermaine Lowery (Father Judge, PA) is the top American in the field with his 53.25 effort from '07.
Boys Field Preview
The track is where it's at generally at the Penn Relays, although this year some big-time field event action could capture some major headlines. The lead story of the boys field events is the match-up between in-state rivals Nick Vena (Morristown, NJ) and Michael Alleman (Scotch Plains-F, NJ). These two have battled for bragging rights in the shot put all season long and Saturday will take their rivalry to another level. Vena, who's only a freshman, has shown continued improvement all season thus far, having the best mark in the country in 2008. Alleman meanwhile is trying to get a handle on slowing down the Vena train, and has been doing quite well as of late. The senior will be looking for his first Penny Relays victory.
The boys javelin should be interesting as well with Justin Shirk (Central Dauphin, PA) and Kyle Elliott (Cresskill, NJ) leading the way. Both athletes have thrown over 200 feet this year and you can be certain both will be looking to make their mark with 220+ throws and take over the national leaderboard for the event.
Boys Relays Preview
So far this season very few great 4x800m relay times have been run outdoors. The indoor season saw some top notch times run, but the times outdoors always seems to heat up this weekend. Leading the way in the event this year are a trio of teams that have the capabilities to run 7:45 or faster. North Penn (PA) and Chaminade (NY) both ran 7:47 indoors and have continued to look good outdoors. North Penn will have an enormous fan base at the meet, which should energize this team beyond belief.
The third team to mix it up in the 4x800m relay is Cleveland Heights (OH). The squad placed second last year at Nike Outdoor Nationals in this event and returns three of their athletes off that squad, including 1:51 800m man Jared Hall. While this squad has yet to really show their cards in the event one cannot discount them from the mix. Finally, Jamaica's Kingston College and Jamaica College have enough talent to make a statement in the race as well, although they aren't as talented up top when looking at their top athletes.
The distance medley relay is going to be an interesting battle as well. Perennial favorites Warwick Valley (NY) are looking strong after their solid indoor campaign. The favorites of the meet however have to be Danbury (CT) and Germantown Friends (PA). Both of these squads are running well as of late. Danbury turned it on two weeks ago at the Arcadia Invitational (CA). With miler Willie Ahearn and mid-distance star Parker Boudreau leading the way the squad is looking to put up an impressive time. Germantown Friends will also be shooting for a great time after running 7:47 last weekend in the 4x800m relay.
W. Windsor-Plainsboro South (NJ) looked good all indoor season and is entered in the DMR, however, their top runner Brian Leung has seemingly been slowed by injury. If he can bounce back then the squad could be a heavy hitter in the event. Also, LaSalle College (PA) is looking good after they finished their indoor season on a few high notes. Overall this race should be excellent.
Girls Track Preview
While the mile headlines the individual track events on the boys side, the best event on the girls side is seemingly the 400m hurdles. Two weeks ago at the Taco Bell Invitational Ryann Krais (Methacton, PA) made a statement by beating Jacquelyn Coward (Knoxville West, TN) in the event in 58.96 seconds. Krais will have to take her talents one step further as she'll face the first and second place finishers from the Jamaican National Championships.
Shana-Gaye Tracey (Manchester, Jamaica) and Nikita Tracey (EDA, Jamaica) broke 59 seconds as well at the championships, with Shana-Gaye winning in a great time of 58.18. Nikita ran a strong race as well by finishing in 58.95. This race should be a battle and could take two athletes under 58 seconds for the fist time in a long while.
The mile will impress any distance fan. Freshman sensation Chelsey Sveinsson (Greenhill, TX) leads the way once again this season, this time hoping to run a strong race from start to finish and close at or under 4:40. Following Sveinsson are last year's Nike Outdoor Nationals 1-2 finishers Emily Infeld (Beaumont, OH) and Stephanie Morgan (Barnesville, OH). Both athletes have shown very little this season so far, but Penn gives them a chance to really open up their stride and try to hit a good time. New York's Kristin Reese (Carmel, NY) is another athlete that will challenge for the victory.
The 3,000m run is stacked. Every name in the field, especially about 10 athletes, have the gift of running fast and not hitting their peak yet Melanie Thompson (Voorhees, NJ), Kathleen McCafferty (Oak Knoll, PA), Kacey Gibson (Neshannock, PA), Chelsea Ley (Kingsway, NJ) and Emily Jones (Bromfield, MA) all have a shot at winning the race, especially McCafferty and Jones, both of whom ran sub-10:35 indoors. With so much talent in the field this race should get out extremely Do not be surprised to see a 10:15 occur.
Girls Field Preview
The jumps are going to be great to watch. In the long jump Americans Jen Clayton (Suffern, NY) and Tynita Butts (T.C. Williams, VA) look to clear the twenty foot barrier and will hopefully do so with ease. The two will have a trailer however with the person taking responsibility. Todea-Key Willis (St. Andrew, Jamaica) gives this event a bit more energy, as well as another 20 foot + jumper.
The best individual performance on the girl side could come from Salacia Slack (Holmwood Technical, Jamaica). Slack is high energy and that type of dedication comes from practice. The mark that impresses came from the Jamaican National Championships, where she cleared 43-05 in the event. Look for a record breaking performance. The girls pole vault is pretty impressive as well with Abby Schaffer (Easton, PA) returning to defend her title and should be looking to soar over at least 13-00.
In the throws, Karen Shump (Penncrest, PA) looks to break 50 feet in the shot put for the first time this outdoor season. Shump threw over 50 feet quite a few times during the indoor season. Since the indoor season Shump hasn't had the opportunity to do extremely well in the event, so with perfect weather this weekend Shump will rise to the challenge like she always does. Natalie Baird (Park View, VA) also looks to continue her successful season, this time by winning the discus.
Girls Relays
With the 4x800m relay split into small school and large school sections it is easy to forget a team or two in the event. The large school division should be quite good as perennial powerhouse Eleanor Roosevelt (MD) leads the way. This squad ran 8:59 in the event during the indoor season and is always prepared for big meet competition such as this. Westfield (VA) should challenge as well, especially after winning the girls 4x800m relay at the Aracdia Invitational (CA) two weeks back, with one of their top four girls being sick. A healthy Westfield could mean a very healthy winning time.
Benjamin Cardozo (NY) looks to improve upon their 9:05 4x8 effort from the indoor season and assuming all their athletes are healthy they should contend quite well. The biggest darkhorse of the whole event is Holmwood Technical School (Jamaica). Looking through the Jamaican National Championship results, this squad produced five sub 2:!5 800m runner, led by a 2:10 leg and 2:12 leg. While the team is loading up in all the relays, it will be interesting to see just how low this school can go in the small school race.
The DMR is full of talent as well. Much like Eleanor Roosevelt, Saratoga Springs (NY) is a national power every year for a reason. These girls work incredibly hard, have great coaching and learn to compete at the highest levels from the time they are freshman. With their 11:48.88 indoors and some strong running outdoors, this squad is ready to take the next step.
The top team in the nation during the indoor season wasn't Saratoga however, it was Warwick Valley (NY). With their 11:44.44, Warwick is looking strong heading into Penn Thursday. Acadmey of the Holy Names (NY) and Southern Regional (NJ) both look strong as well, especially Southern Regional who has miler Jillian Smith looking to run a monster anchor leg.