The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
Penn Relays
Men's Track and Field wins its third consecutive DMR at Penn Relays
04.25.2008 | Track & Field / Cross Country m, Track & Field / Cross Country
-
PHILADELPHIA -- The Texas men's track and field team won its third consecutive Penn Relays distance medley relay championship at Franklin Field in Philadelphia, Pa., on Friday. The team of senior Erik Stanley (1,200 leg), freshman Danzell Fortson (400 leg), junior Jacob Hernandez (800 leg) and senior Leo Manzano (1,600 leg) crossed the finish line in 9:32.89, ahead of Stanford (9:33.16) and Villanova (9:34.39). The Horns became the first team to win three consecutive Penn Relays DMRs since Arkansas won five straight from 1991-95.
"This is another great day for Texas track and field," said UT men's head coach Bubba Thornton. "To come to the Penn Relays and win this prestigious event three times in a row is a great thing. The guys have worked really hard this season, so they could enjoy these kinds of victories. I'm just so proud of them."
Stanley led off the race for the Horns running the 1,200-meter leg in 2:57.5. Fortson followed with a 45.6 400-meter leg. Hernandez gave UT its first lead of the race during the 800-meter leg, which he ran in 1:48. Manzano anchored in 4:01.8, including a 54.5 final 400, to give Texas the victory.
Manzano has anchored all three of the victorious DMRs, while Stanley and Hernandez were also a part of last year's championship team, which set the school record of 9:29.60. Manzano, Hernandez and Fortson, along with junior Kyle Miller, made up the indoor DMR squad that set the world record of 9:25.97 at the Tyson Invitational earlier this year.
In other action, senior Hamza Deyaf finished eighth in the 400-meter hurdles in a time of 51.61. Senior Ryan Wilson kicked off the competition for Texas on Thursday by finishing 15th in the 3,000-meter steeplechase in a time of 9:08.36.
In the field, senior Donovan Kilmartin finished seventh in the college long jump with a mark of 7.12 meters (23-4 1/2), while sophomore Nick Baucum placed sixth in the college shot put with a toss of 16.09 meters (52-9 1/4).
