University of Tennessee Athletics
University of Tennessee
Penn Relays
Freshman Foursome Impress at Penn Relays
April 24, 2015 | Track & Field
April 24, 2015
PHILADELPHIA -- Tennessee found its rhythm on the track Friday at the 121st Penn Relays, notching a pair of top-five finishes in the men's relays. Meanwhile, Felicia Brown raced to the top of the women's 100-meter dash qualifying rounds.
Historically, the Volunteers have enjoyed considerable success in the relay events during their annual pilgrimage to Philadelphia. While UT did not come away with any relay victories on Friday, the effort from a quartet of freshmen in the sprint medley relay certainly turned some heads.
First-year competitors Christian Coleman, Jalen Hunter, Nathan Strother, and Chase Hilton combined to record a time of 3:24.65 in the Men's SMR Championship of America Invitational, placing fourth overall. The four freshmen finished only three seconds behind winners Penn State and runners-up LSU.
"It was a valiant effort by all four legs," said Tennessee sprints coach Tim Hall. "Those freshmen got out there with the likes of Texas A&M, LSU--some very prominent track and field programs--and they stepped up to the challenge. From the start with Christian Coleman, the second leg with Jalen Hunter, Nathan Strother did his thing on the third leg, and then Chase Hilton ran a tremendous 800-meter leg to fight back for that fourth place spot. So it's very promising for the future in terms of that being an all-freshman relay team who came into the Penn Relays and performed in unfavorable conditions."
UT also had a strong showing in the collegiate section of the men's distance medley relay, notching another fourth-place finish. Hilton ran the opening leg in that relay and was joined by Antonio Carter, Nick Kaiser, and Austin Whitelaw in turning in a time of 9:58.66--the fastest recorded by any Volunteer relay team this season.
On the women's side, Felicia Brown continued her recent streak of success in the sprints when she earned the top seed into Saturday's 100-meter dash championship. The junior was the No. 1 finisher in the preliminary round, pacing all other competitors with a time of 11.59.
"Felicia has the fastest time returning for the championship tomorrow," Hall said. "It wasn't one of her better starts, but we'll prepare a little better tomorrow down in the infield to kind of get her going. Hopefully she can put the first part of her race together and come out with the win."
Brown goes for Penn Relays gold on Saturday at 3:35 p.m. ET and will be joined by representatives from Auburn, Cincinnati, N.C. State, and Texas.
In the field events, freshman Matthew Zajac opened up the day for UT with a fifth-place finish in the men's discus college competition. His top throw of the day came in at 176 feet, two inches (53.71). Meanwhile, Matthew Hoty and Tavis recorded top-10 finishes in the men's shot put championship. Hoty put forth a season-best effort at 60 feet, 0.5 inches (18.30)--marking the first time since last spring that Hoty had eclipsed the 60-foot mark. That throw bumps the senior from No. 59 all the way to No. 39 in the national shot put rankings.
Bailey placed ninth overall in the shot put at 55 feet, seven inches (16.94).
Aside from Brown's appearance in the 100-meter final, Tennessee will feature in four other events on Saturday at the Penn Relays. Kyle Quinn opens proceedings at 11:15 a.m. ET in the men's javelin throw championship and Bailey follows at 12:30 p.m. in the men's discus championship. At 2 p.m., two-time defending champion Jake Blankenship takes center stage as he eyes his third consecutive Penn Relays title in the pole vault championship. He will be flanked in the event by Tyler Porter and Michael Maira. Carson Frost and Deon McAdoo compete in the collegiate section of the men's hammer throw at 3:15 p.m.
MEN'S RESULTS AT PENN RELAYS
Thursday
5000m (Champ.): Kyle Walter - dnf
10,000m (Champ.): 25. Anthony Simpson, 31:38.76
Friday
Discus (College): 5. Matthew Zajac, 176-2 (53.71)
High Jump (College): 16. Wesley Edwards, 6-6.75 (2.00)
Shot Put (Champ.): 6. Matthew Hoty, 60-0.5 (18.30); 9. Tavis Bailey, 55-7 (16.94)
DMR (College): 4. Tennessee `A' (Hilton, Carter, Kaiser, Whitelaw), 9:58.66
4x400 (prelim): 16. Tennessee `B' (Coleman, Hunter, Strother, Carter), 3:16.88
SMR (Championship): 4. Tennessee `B' (Coleman, Hunter, Strother, Hilton), 3:24.65
WOMEN'S RESULTS AT PENN RELAYS
Thursday
Pole Vault (Champ.): 4. Erin Champion, 12-9.50 (3.90)
Long Jump (College): 3. Cidae'a Woods, 19-2.00 (5.84)
3000m (Champ.): Chelsea Blaase - dnr
Friday
Triple Jump (College): 12. Brielyn Rogers, 39-2.25 (11.94)
100m (prelim): 1. Felicia Brown, 11.59 (+2.9) - adv
Javelin (College): 11. Maria Jimenez, 140-7 (42.86)
! - Personal Best, $ - SEC Record, a - American Record, b - Banked Track, c - Collegiate Record, adv. - Advanced, dna - Did Not Advance, dnf - Did Not Finish, dnr - Did Not Run, dns - Did Not Score, dq - Disqualified, F - Foul, f - Facility Record, fr - Freshman Record, fr* - Tied Freshman Record, fs - False Start, H - Heptathlon, h - Hand-Timed, mr - Meet Record, nh - No Height, nm - No Mark, P - Pentathlon, sr - School Record, u - Undersized Track, w - wind-aided, wr - World Record
