Union Catholic Girls Run No.2 All-Time 4x800 For Championship Wheel

By Doug Binder, DyeStat Editor

Photos by John Nepolitan

The Penn Relays really isn't Villanova's meet, and yet somehow it always seems that it is. 

On Saturday at Philadelphia's Franklin Field, on the campus of the University of Pennsylvania, Villanova's men's 4xMile relay team enjoyed one of the signature moments of the 127th edition of America's biggest track and field meet. 

In an event that included a Washington team with its deep stable of sub-four milers, and Wisconsin, Virginia, Georgetown and Duke -- it was the Wildcats pulling out a narrow victory over all of them. 

Liam Murphy got to the line first as six teams finished within two-thirds of a second in a 16-minute race. Villanova's winning time was 16:14.03 and it was the team's 21st victory in this particular event at Penn Relays. 

INTERVIEWS

"I trusted my coach today. I trusted my teammates who were saying if you're the last one (to kick) it will pay off," Murphy said. "That's what I did I was lucky to have a little bit left at the end compared to (Friday)."

The final lap and a half included a pack of anchor legs all pressing for the win. 

"It got really physical with guys trying to find the position they wanted to be in. There was a lot of shoving, tripping. I just tried to stay out of it," Murphy said. 

Wisconsin was second in 16:14.24. Washington was third in 16:14.31. Virginia was fourth in 16:14.48. Georgetown: 16:14.64. Duke: 16:14.67. Oklahoma State, Michigan and Notre Dame right there as well. 

A day earlier, Murphy anchored Villanova's DMR and started his kick a little bit too soon. It was costly in a one-second loss to Wisconsin (9:33.82 to 9:34.83). 

"Yesterday was fuel for the fire," second leg Charlie O'Donovan said. "Every leg, but especially the final leg, is a game of chess. It's a tactical game."

Among the big winners out of the weekend was Texas A&M, which collected three Championship of America victories in the women's sprints: the 4x100, 4x400 and Sprint Medley. 

The Aggies capped their impressive weekend with a 4x400 relay victory in 3:25.97. Anchor Jermaisha Arnold kicked from 300 meters out and split 49.79 and overtook Ohio State. 

In the high school girls 4x800, Union Catholic put together a tremendous 8:44.98 performance that was the second-fastest in U.S. history and an all-time New Jersey best. Maameyaa Nyinah  (2:12.30), Jimmiea King (2:12.20), Kaleigh Gunsiorowski (2:10.76) and Peyton Hollis (2:09.73) ended a string of Jamaican domination in the event since 2016. 

The girls from Hydel of Jamaica enjoyed spectacular success in the 4x400 relay (3:35.63), winning for the fourth time in the past five Penn Relays. Top American team Bullis MD was third in US#1 3:36.25. That time is No. 6 all-time, a school record and the fastest by a U.S. team since Sydney McLaughlin's Union Catholic squad in 2015. 

Hydel, which features standout Alana Reid, also won the 4x100 (44.16).

Saratoga Springs NY won the girls distance medley in 11:43.42, with Emily Bush anchoring the team to a 24-second victory over West Springfield VA. 

Jamaica College won the boys 4x100 (40.97) title and Kingston College won the 4x400 (3:15.62) in rainy conditions Friday. 

Chatham NJ prevented Kingston College from collecting a second title in the 4x800. Ryan Beegle split 1:52.47 to move up three spots and nab victory away at the finish line in 7:47.66. Kingston College was just .02 back in 7:37.68.

Bullis MD, which got an incredible 45.06 anchor leg from freshman Quincy Wilson in the prelim on Thursday and ran the fastest time (US#7 3:14.12), finished sixth in the final.

Seton Hall Prep of New Jersey stepped up to take second in the 4x400 final in 3:16.06. 

Rocky Hansen anchored Christ School NC to victory in Friday's boys distance medley, splitting 4:05.65 to help his team run 9:58.15, good for No. 16 all-time. 

Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver Devon Allen won his second hurdles race of the 2023 season on seven weeks' training. He edged out Brazil's Rafael Pereira, 13.457 to 13.459 in wet conditions. 

Josette Andrews of On Athletics broke the meet record in the women's 1,500 meters with a time of 4:04.88. She broke a 27-year old-record held by Mary Henner (4:06.84). 

Geordie Beamish of On Athletics won the men's elite mile in 3:57.68. 

Ajee' Wilson of adidas won the women's 600 meters in 1:24.45. High schooler Sophia Gorriaran from Moses Brown RI was fifth in 1:27.23.

Shawnti Jackson, making her way back from a hamstring injury, won the women's elite 200 meters race in 23.11 seconds representing RunU Xpress Track Club. 

The Ole Miss men repeated their 4x800 relay title, with Baylor Franklin overtaking Penn State on the anchor leg to win in 7:12.37. 

Penn State beat Washington in the women's 4x800, 8:23.81 to 8:28.50.