Chmiel's anchor brings a long-awaited DMR wheel back to Saratoga Springs

By Doug Binder, DyeStat Editor

PHILADELPHIA – The last time Saratoga Springs won the girls distance medley relay at Penn Relays, twins Carley and Samantha Vetter were toddlers.

And their babysitter was Lindsey Ferguson, who was a standout runner and a member of Saratoga’s 2004 Penn Relays title team.

Fourteen years later, the Vetters helped to hoist a Penn Relays wheel. The Blue Streaks, with junior Kelsey Chmiel running 4:49.22 on the anchor to take the team from seventh to first, finished in 11:59.31 on a sunny, breezy day at Franklin Field.

The 124th running of the country’s oldest and largest meet began as it always does with a day devoted almost entirely to high school girls and collegiate women – a tradition that began 40 years ago in 1978.

Just as one example of the size and scope of Penn Relays – 618 girls high school 4x100 relay teams took the track Thursday. Only nine of them will advance to Friday’s Championship of America race.

The Villanova women locked down the distance medley relay title for the sixth time in seven years, using Nicole Hutchinson (3:21.86), McKenna Keegan (55.71), Rachel McArthur (2:08.30) and Siofra Cleirigh Buttner (4:36.09) to run 11:01.94.

The Auburn women ran 44.02 to lead all qualifiers in the college 4x100 relay.

At the high school level, six teams from Jamaica, led by top qualifier Edwin Allen at 45.41 seconds, will be joined by St. Catherine’s of the Bahamas and U.S. teams Western Branch VA (45.83) and Bullis MD (46.10).

Bullis MD, in particular, arrived eager to take on the top Jamaicans at every turn. The team got off to a great start as senior Masai Russell began the day with a victory in the 400-meter hurdles in 58.49 seconds. Adriana Shockey of Western Branch VA was second in 59.10 and Jamaicans Reanda Richards and Sanique Walker finished with the third-and fourth-fastest times.

“It was a big lift,” Bullis coach Joe Lee said. “(Russell) works so hard and she exemplifies the dedication that we try to put into the program.”

Russell did not have to race any more after her hurdles race, but she will be plugged back into the relay for the championship races in the 4x100 and 4x400.

Bullis will send out its national record indoor 4x200 relay team – Russell, Shaniya Hall, Leah Phillips and Ashley Seymour – to face the A-list Jamaican squads.

In the 4x400, Hydel of Jamaica sped to the seventh-fastest time in Penn Relays history, 3:36.53. Shiann Salmon split 52.25 on the second leg.

Bullis ran 3:42.42 and will sub in two girls, including Russell, for the final. Western Branch also made the Championship of America race in the 4x400 with 3:45.63 and held out Shockey.

“It’s always fun to run against the Jamaicans,” Lee said. “They’ve cemented themselves as the gold standard for high school sprinting. Our goal is to be right there and meet that standard and exceed it. It’s fun going against them because you know you’re running against the best in the world.”

The last U.S. girls team to win the 4x100 championship was Long Beach Poly CA in 2012. That team was anchored by Ariana Washington. On Thursday, Long Beach Poly ran 47.35 and did not advance to the final.

The last U.S. girls team to win the 4x400 was Eleanor Roosevelt MD in 2008.

Marlee Starliper of Northern PA won the girls mile in 4:47.51, beating an elite level field from multiple states for the first time despite being close a couple times previous.

Starliper was one of three runners under five minutes. Tori Starcher of Ripley WV was second in 4:51.15 and Savannah Shaw of Upper St. Clair PA was third in 4:55.74.

In the 3,000 meters, Jackie Gaughan of Exter NH ran 9:34.41 to beat a strong field. She had to hold off Padua DE’s Lydia Olivere, who closed in 68 seconds to run 9:35.14 for second. Abigail Green of Walter Johnson MD was third in 9:35.83.

In the Distance Night portion of the meet, Providence’s Millie Paladino ran 16:08.15 for the win in the college women’s 5,000 meters. 

Notre Dame's Anna Rohrer won the 10,000 meters in 33:25.24 as she returned from injury.

Amy Cashin of West Virginia won the 3,000-meter steeplechase in 9:59.30.