Report from the Penn Relays"
By George Kochman
April 28, 2010 – There was high drama at the 116th running of the Penn Relays at Franklin Field this past weekend. And Island alumni and those with Island roots played a big part in the excitement.
More than 54,000 packed the venerable arena on Saturday, many drawn by the appearance of Jamaican Usain Bolt. But there were many more fans waiting to see the best track and field week of the year.More than 117,000, a record, jammed Franklin Field for the final three days.
Most of the Island alumni action was packed into Saturday events, but Jeff Brannigan, formerly of Curtis HS, led off the American University distance medley relay on Friday, splitting 3:03.0, as AU won their section in 9:54.93.
Two former Monsignor Farrell alumni, Dennis Alitota of East Carolina, and Kyle Duggan of the University of Connecticut, competed in championship field events, with Duggan tying for seventh in the pole vault (16-6.75), while Aliotta threw the hammer 182-10, which was good for tenth.
Just one week earlier, Duggan had vaulted a PR 17-1.
Former St. Joseph by-the-Sea star Jesse Carlin is no stranger to the Penn relays. Twice an All American at Penn, she’s now in the graduate pharmacy school, and training “on her own.”
She competed for the World All Star team in the USA vs. the World sprint medley relay, and split 2:04.40 on the anchor leg. She ran real well until the final 100 meters, where she tied up badly, but 2:04.40 at this time of the year isn’t too shabby.
Carlin plans on competing in some West coast meets. She’ll probably be a “rabbit” (pacemaker) in at least one major invitational, then compete in an open event in the others.
But most knowledgeable fans were waiting for the 4 p.m. 4x800-meter confrontation between several of the nation’s best.
There was Oregon, already a winner of the DMR and 4xmile, and anchored by Olympian Andrew Wheating.
There was U Conn, which had run 7:20 indoors in 2009, then red-shirted their entire team indoors this year. They were armed with two sub-1:47 legs, and ready to roll.
There was LSU, with two 1:47 legs, and the University of Virginia, anchored by freshman Robby Andrews, the upset indoor NCAA champion. And there was always-dangerous Arkansas, plus an improved Indiana team.
Yet the slim favorite was Penn State, with a balanced squad, whose personal best added up to 7:11. Running the third leg would be Lionel Williams, familiar to all Islanders. The former St. Peter’s HS star had split 1:48.3 last year, bringing his team into the lead.
There was much speculation as to how the race would unfold. Could Andrews duplicate his feat of upsetting Wheating? Could Andrews run off a fast first 400? Where would he get the stick? Would it even matter?
Would Oregon be too far ahead?
Adding to the suspense was the fact that Penn State, U Conn, and Virginia had put all their eggs into the 4x800 basket. Many predicted as many as eight teams going under the 7:20 barrier.
All of the major players were in the mix after two legs, with Penn State holding a narrow lead, thanks to a 1:46.8-second leg by true freshman Casimir Loxsom, who had improved greatly over the past year.
Williams took the stick, and decided to break the race open with a reckless pace.
He sped through the 400 in 51.0, but no one was giving too much ground, as too much was at stake. Williams lasted until the final 90 meters, when he tired badly, and was passed by both Virginia and Oregon. Williams split was a still-respectable 1:51.94.
Andrews, out of Manalapan HS, but born on Staten Island, now had the stick in the lead.
The pace immediately slowed as Penn State anchor Ryan Foster closed quickly, joining Andrews and
Wheating.
Andrews went by the 400 in 55.1, and then the action began with 280 meters remaining as both Foster and Wheating began to drive for home.
Foster entered the last curve in front, with Wheating on his shoulder and Andrews two meters behind.
The two leaders fought around the curve, and then Andrews struck with 90 meters to go. He caught Wheating again 30 meters from the tape, and held on for the win, as both anchor men clocked an identical 1:47.78.
At the press conference, Andrews said, “I had to be patient, not move too early. The guy who kicks last usually wins.”
Andrews’ coach at Virginia, Jason Vigilante, praised his freshman star for having withstood the pressure, and the urge to move too early in a pressure-packed race.
Incidentally, Andrews is no longer unbeaten in collegiate competition, as he lost the ACC 800-meter title to fellow Cavalier Lance Roller.
Two other Islanders competed in non-championship 4x800 sections, with Jeff Carbonella (Farrell) leading off the Princeton team that ran 7:32.70, while Vin Gangemi (St. Peter’s) anchored LIU to a 7:47.26 clocking.
