Marshall University Athletics
Track and Field to Compete at Penn Relays
4/24/2002 12:00:00 AM | Track and Field
Track and Field to Compete at Penn Relays
4/24/2002
HUNTINGTON, W.Va.- Marshall University Track and Field will be competing at the prestegious Penn Relays this weekend. Beginning on Thursday and ending Saturday, Marshall will compete in seven events during the course of the meet.
?There is nothing like the Penn Relays,? Head Coach Jeff Small said. ?It is the site of some of the most famous moments in track and field history. Over the course of three days more than 100,000 people will attend the relays just to watch our sport. The atmosphere is unmatched and I?m very excited for all the athletes we are bringing, especially our seniors, Casey, Michelle and Marlon. Obviously Casey ran a great race there last year and I think he?s ready to do so again, but all the kids are ready to have a great meet. All we can hope for is that they take advantage of the tremendous setting and compete to the best of their ability.?
In its 107-year history, the Penn Relays have provided competition for more athletes than any other track meet in the world. This year during some 33 hours of competition on Thursday, Friday and Saturday more than 425 races will be run, an average of more than one race every five minutes.
Nineteen different athletes will compete for the Herd over the course of three days. Freshmen Taneshia Becton, Ashli Creal and Kristin Herron will be running in the 4x100 meter relay along with sophomore Andrea Perry. The 4x400 meter relay team will consist of Michelle John, Celeste Simpson, Stephanie Eastman and Zedmalia Wolfe. Reigning Mid-American Conference champion Erin Compton will be competing in the women?s discus.
Senior Casey Batey, the MAC champion in the steeplechase, will be returning to compete in the race he placed fourth in last season and will once again be vying for an NCAA bid. Marlon Little, Mark Littlejohn, John Ferguson and James Hickey make up the men?s 4x100 meter relay team that will compete on Friday. The 4x400 meter relay team, consisting of Phil Jones, Nimal Bailey, Mike Jones and Brent Garrett, will also compete on that day. Bailey, who placed fourth in the MAC last year, will also compete in the 400 meter intermediate hurdles on Saturday.
