Life Returns To Franklin Field On Penn Relays Weekend With Modest College Meet

By Mary Albl of DyeStat

University of Pennsylvania Photo

Historically, the premier meet in April in the U.S. for track and field athletes is the Penn Relays, with thousands of high school, collegiate and track clubs making their way to Philadelphia's Franklin Field.

Cautionary measures due to the COVID-19 pandemic caused the massive meet to be canceled for a second year in a row.

But in 2021, the old stadium did not sit idle on the traditional Penn Relays weekend. In its place, a local college meet, the Philadelphia Metropolitan Collegiate Invitational filled some of void.

The University of Pennsylvania, the host school, made a strong showing Saturday as the Quakers racked up 13 titles between the men’s and women’s programs. Penn swept the discus throws as junior Ashley Anumba tossed the disc 183 feet, 8 inches (55.99m), the No. 15 throw in the NCAA Division 1, while junior Chudi Ikpeazu won with a mark of 191-8 (58.42m), currently No. 8.

In the men’s 3,000-meter steeplechase, Penn claimed the top 3 spots, as freshman Michael Keehan won in a time of 8:48.54, No. 10 in the NCAA. 

The Villanova men’s team had a banner day claiming multiple titles. The distance medley relay team of Casey Comber, Richard Bush, Sean Dolan and Charlie O'Donovan posted an NCAA-leading time of 9:38.81. The team of Miller Anderson, Comber, O'Donovan and Dolan ran 7:27.6 to win the 4x800, No. 2 in the NCAA as of Saturday. Villanova also claimed the 400 hurdles title (Keegan Hughes, 52.95). 

The Villanova women won seven titles as the 4x400 team of Amari Onque-Shabazz, Madison Martinez, Brynne Sumner and McKenna Keegan came from behind to win in 3:38.78. Keegan clocked a final lap of 52.67. The Wildcats also claimed the SMR title (3:49.82). Sophomore Lydia Olivere won the steeplechase in with 10:03.89 and broke the school record.

In the distance events, Temple’s Grace Moore, a senior, won the 1,500 (4:19.56), while teammate and fellow senior Michelle Joyce won the 5,000  in 16:31.61. 

Villanova’s Comber and Keegan were named the Male and Female Track Athletes of the Meet.

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