College/Pro Storylines at Penn Relays

By Doug Binder, DyeStat Editor

Here are some of the College/Pro Storylines we’re following this week at the 124th Penn Relays in Philadelphia.

Programming Note: You can watch the live Webcast here of the meet Thursday, Friday and Saturday. The USATF.TV broadcast and on-demand videos will only be available for USATF.TV +PLUS subscribers. Subscribe here.

Villanova Women ‘Deeper’

Villanova has a rich and storied tradition of success at the Penn Relays and the women’s team earned three wheels in 2017 for victories in the 4x800, 4x1,500 and Distance Medley Relay.

Angel Piccirillo had a hand in eight Penn Relays titles – the most of any collegian. She graduated last year, but is returning as a pro to run in the women’s mile Saturday with her new Juventus TC teammates Ajee Wilson and Charlene Lipsey.

However, the Wildcats are moving on with a squad that coach Gina Procaccio says is even deeper than 2017.

Procaccio told Penn Relays meet director Dave Johnson on a recent podcast, “Losing Angel is huge, but we do seem to have more depth this year. We have three girls back who ran on all three (winning) relays last year, and we’re loading them up for all three again.”

The central figure is Siofra Cleirigh Buttner, who starred last year and was second in the NCAA indoor 800-meter final.  

Procaccio has her pick of Nicole Hutchinson, Kelsey Margey, McKenna Keegan, Rachel McArthur and Kaley Ciluffo. Another promising freshman, Alex Harris, is entered in the 3,000-meter steeplechase. 

Big Matchups In Field Events

There are some big matchups throughout the three-day run in field events.

The women’s shot put features NCAA Division 1 No. 6 Jessica Woodward of Oklahoma against No. 11 Khayla Dawson of Indiana.

The women’s long jump has No. 4 Rougui Sow of South Carolina, the defending champion, taking on Jamaica’s Tissanna Hickling, who jumped a wind-aided 21-8.75 (6.62m) on April 14. Sow jumped a wind-legal 21-6 (6.55m) at the Spec Towns Invitational. (ThursdayNote - Sow did not compete).

Houston’s Samiyah Samuels, a former high school star, is another intriguing name to watch. She has a best this season of 20-7.75 (6.29m).

In the women’s javelin, Bucknell’s Maura Fiamoncini, ranked No. 3 in the country, goes up against No. 10 Laura Paredes of Florida State. Fiamoncini, a freshman, has thrown 184-5 (56.21m) this season and Paredes has gone 175-6 (53.50m).

In the women’s discus throw, a pair of Florida State throwers, Shanice Love and Gleneve Grange, are both ranked in the top 12.

In the women’s high jump, Lissa Labiche of South Carolina, the SEC Indoor runner-up at 6-0.75 (1.85m) is entered. She faces teammate Jordan Fields, who also has a best of 6-0.75.

The men’s javelin features three throwers ranked in the top 10 nationally. Mississippi State duo Anderson Peters and Nicolas Quijera have both thrown well early this season. Peters threw 268-10 (81.95m) at the Florida Relays and Quijera threw 261-8 (79.75m) at the Tennessee Relays. Michael Biddle of Penn State has a best this season of 233-7 (71.20m).

The men’s discus will see clash between Penn State’s David Lucas and Maryland’s Greg Thompson. Lucas and Thompson were ninth and 15th, respectively, at NCAAs last June as sophomores.

Freshman Vernon Turner of Oklahoma, one of the top prep high jumpers in history, will get his first taste of Penn Relays. He’ll face off with the reigning champion from South Carolina, Tye Williams, who jumped 7-4.50 (2.25m) at Franklin Field last year. Sam Shoultz of Maryland has already scaled 7-4.25 (2.24m) this spring. 

Olympian on Deck in the Hammer

Cornell’s Rudy Winkler, a 2016 Olympian and 2017 World Championships competitor, is in his final collegiate season.

The Penn Relays and Franklin Field records date back to 1983, when Robert Weir of SMU threw 243 feet (74.06m).

If he’s on, Winkler could be the man to take down the 35-year-old mark. His best is 246-4 (75.10m).

Princeton’s Adam Kelly could also give chase. 

Houston Looking to Flash Speed

With a sprint corps that includes Cameron Burrell and Elijah Hall, the Cougars could be a factor in the NCAA team title this spring.

Houston is entered in the meet, but entries for the 4x100 relay have not been released yet. If Houston is indeed going for it, the Cougars could perhaps end a five-year run by Jamaican colleges. 

Women’s Distance Races

Ajee’ Wilson doesn’t run too many miles, but the Philly-trained Olympian is entered in the Olympic Development women’s mile along with Juventus TC teammates Charlene Lipsey and newcomer Angel Piccirillo. Saturday’s field also includes Rhianwedd Price-Weimer of Mississippi State.

The women’s 5,000 meters has some recognizable names involved. Nevada Mareno, who transferred from Stanford to North Carolina State, is in it, along with Paige Hofstad (Georgetown), Bella Burda (Villanova), Waverly Neer (Hoka NJNYTC), Millie Paladino (unattached) and Audrey Belf (unattached), among others.

Notre Dame’s Anna Rohrer is the top entrant in the women’s 10,000 meters Thursday night. She’ll be making a comeback after a layoff due to injury. 

Small School, Big Vault

Katherine Pitman of Ithaca College in Upstate New York is back to defend her Penn Relays title in the women’s pole vault Thursday. Pitman recently broke her own NCAA Division 3 record with a clearance at 14-1.50. STORY

Men's Mile 

Johnny Gregorek (Asics), Colby Alexander (Hoka NJNYTC) and Chris Hatler (District TC) are the headliners in the Olympic Development men's mile, which could likely go under four minutes.

USA vs The World

One of the Saturday afternoon highlights happens when the national team colors take to the track. Although the final names are still being worked out, we know the USA and Jamaica (and others) will collide in the men’s and women’s 4x100 relay, 4x400 relay and Sprint Medley Relay. The USA teams will include Justin Gatlin, Raevyn Rodgers, Michael Cherry and Aaliyah Brown.