University of Connecticut Athletics
University of Connecticut
Penn Relays
Huskies Wrap-Up Penn Relays
4/27/2019 10:09:00 PM | Men's Track and Field
PHILADELPHIA, Pa. – The UConn men's track & field team finished up three days at the historic Penn Relays on Saturday afternoon and will now turn their attention to the 2019 American Athletic Championship scheduled in two weeks time.
The Huskies went down to Franklin Field in Philadelphia for the 125th running of the Penn Relays starting on Thursday night.
"I think we accomplished a lot this weekend," commented head coach Greg Roy. "Yesterday, we had a pair of delays of an hour each, it was pretty wild and conditions were wet but not terrible. Today was beautiful but the strongest winds I think I have ever seen at the Penn Relays, just some really big gust.
"We got a lot done, on the track a good solid 4x400 yesterday," said Roy. "We have been tinkering with our lineup, trying some new things, but that was a really good performance from some of our young guys."
The 4x400 relay team of Noah Woodman (Hampstead, N.H.), Safir Scott (Greenwich, Conn.), Colt Nichols (Portsmouth, R.I.) and Wellington Ventura (Cresskill, N.J.) were 16th overall with a time of 3:12.09 in the opening heats. The Huskies changed up the lineup in the college race with Khriss leading off to Scott Woodman and Ventura and was fifth in 3:16.80.
"On the track, our kids ran really, really well starting Thursday night," stated the head coach. "McGonnigle posted a big PR in the steeplechase to get him to the regionals." Senior Michael McGonnigle (New Fairfield, Conn.) ran eighth in the event and posted a new personal best time of 8:59.12, nearly 45 seconds. Classmate Kyle Barber (Fayetteville, N.Y.) was 29th and posted his fastest time of the season at 9:15.69.
R-Junior Kyle Brackman (Berkeley Heights, N.J.) was 14th in the 5,000 meters with a time of 14:18.24 in a large competitive field. Sophomore Eric van der Els (Norwich, Conn.) ran in the Olympic Development Mile and was 10th in the field with a time of 4:16.75.
UConn distance medley relay of Joshua Bedard (Tolland, Conn.), Khriss, Omar Gebril (North Haven, Conn.), PJ Garmon (Billerica, Mass.) finished 14th overall with a time of 10:12.59. The sprint medley relay team of freshmen Myles Calhoun (Henrietta, N.Y.), Gregory Clark (Quaker Hill, Conn.), Markus Bagley (Jersey City, N.J.) and Garmon were fourth in a time of 3:30.1. In the shuttle hurdles relay, UConn was fifth with a time of 1:00.35.
In the 400 meter hurdles, Khriss ran 26th in the field, posting at time of 54.17 seconds while Nichols posted a new personal-best time of 55.37 seconds.
Scott also competed in the high jump and was fifth in the championship draw of the event, clearing the bar at 2.08 meters (6'9.75"). Sophomore Benjamin Grosse (Wayzata, Minn.) posted a new season-best height in the high jump, clearing the bar at 2.04 meters (6'8.25") to take fifth in the college division.
"Safir looked great, he was jumping better than his bar," said Roy. "And Ian was great today in just crazy windy conditions, thought the whole field handled it really well. And it was really great to see Devon and Tyler post new PR's as well."
Senior Ian Bergere (Madison, Conn.) was near his season-best mark in the pole vault, taking fourth in the championship heat with a height of 4.90 meters (16'0.75").
Senior Ian Bergere (Madison, Conn.) was near his season-best mark in the pole vault, taking fourth in the championship heat with a height of 4.90 meters (16'0.75"). Freshman Devon McShane (Madison, Conn.) won the college division of the pole vault and posted a new personal best, clearing the bar at 4.85 meters (15'11"). Freshman Tyler Hrbek (Northvale, N.J.) tied for fourth in that division, posting a height of 4.70 meters (15'5").
Junior Jordan Torney (Toms River, N.J.) was eighth in the college division long jump with a leap of 7.06 meters (23'3").
Sophomore Todd Stueber (Toms River, N.J.) had his best throw of the season in the shot put, finishing third overall in the college division with a throw of 17.07 meters (56'0"). Classmate Matthew Brady (Biddeford, Maine) matched him with a throw of 17.07 meters (56'0") as well. Stueber was ninth in the discus with a throw of 48.89 meters (160'4").
Senior Sebastian Castano (Cresskill, N.J.) was seventh in the college division of the hammer throw, coming in with a throw of 55.72 meters (182'9"). Sophomore Michael Jeffers (Clifton Park, N.Y.) threw the javelin for just the second time this spring and came up with an eighth place finish in the college division. Jeffers posted a throw of 57.65 meters (189'1").
The Huskies will now begin their final prep for the conference championship meet being held at Wichita State on May 10-12.
Players Mentioned
