The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
Penn Relays
Men's Track and Field wins 4xMile and 4x800-meter relay to complete distance triple at the Penn Relays
04.26.2008 | Track & Field / Cross Country m, Track & Field / Cross Country
-
PHILADELPHIA -- After winning the distance medley relay on Friday, Texas was victorious in the 4xMile and the 4x800-meter relay on Saturday in front of 49,831 fans at the Penn Relays in Philadelphia, Pa., becoming just the fifth school all-time to pull off the distance triple at the event. The other four teams to accomplish the feat are Arkansas (1999), Maryland (1940), Michigan (1945, 2005) and Villanova (11 times between 1964 and 1980).
"Our goal coming into this year's Penn Relays was to win all three of the distance relays," said Texas men's head coach Bubba Thornton. "We knew it was going to be tough, but we felt like we had prepared really well. The guys came out, executed and were able to accomplish it. It is a great day to be a Longhorn."
Texas built on its success from the 2007 Penn Relays, when they won both the DMR and the 4xMile, but did not compete in the 4x800. Not only did the victory in the 4x800 this year complete the distance triple, but it was UT's first ever victory in that event at the Penn Relays.
The Horns took the 4x800-meter relay title in 7:23.51, ahead of LSU (7:24.42) and last year's champion Columbia (7:24.82). Junior Tevan Everett led off in 1:52.7 and handed to senior Darren Brown, who finished his half in 1:52.2. Junior Kyle Miller completed the third leg in 1:50.3, pulling the Longhorns even with LSU at the final exchange. Junior Jacob Hernandez ran the anchor leg in 1:48.3 to give UT the victory.
Texas opened Saturday on the track with a 4xMile victory in a time of 16:29.50, finishing ahead of Virginia (16:31.04) and Syracuse (16:31.99). The team was made up of senior Erik Stanley (4:10.5), Brown (4:02.4), Miller (4:08.4) and senior Leo Manzano (4:08.2), who was named the Outstanding College Relays Performer for the second consecutive year after anchoring both the 4xMile and DMR to victories.
The Longhorns were also busy in the field events. Junior Raymond Harris used a personal best of 2.16 meters (7-1) to finish second in the championship high jump to St. Augustine's Joseph Kindred, who also finished at 2.16 meters, but won with less misses.
Freshman Maston Wallace used a clearance of 5.20 meters (17-0 3/4) to secure second place in the championship pole vault, falling to Clemson's Mitch Greeley in a jump off. Senior John Rouse placed sixth in the college hammer throw with a mark of 57.8 meters (189-7).
In the college triple jump, junior Elliot O'Hare recorded a leap of 14.8 meters (48-6 3/4) to place ninth, while senior Joseph Davis finished 11th with a mark of 14.5 meters (47-7). Junior Dustin Bynum ended up 19th in the college javelin with a throw of 51.28 meters (168-2).
