Track and Field Helps Kick Off 109th Annual Penn Relays – Ohio State Buckeyes
4/24/2003 12:00:00 AM | Women's Track & Field
April 24, 2003
.
Columbus, Ohio – The 109th running of the Penn Relays began Thursday at the University of Pennsylvania’s Franklin Field in Philadelphia, Pa. and marked the return to action of Ohio State senior and All-American high jumper Tami Smith (Galloway, Ohio), who had been forced to sit out the last two weeks because of injury. Smith equaled her season-best performance to place fourth in the College Women’s Championship High Jump event. Senior thrower Krista Keir (Westerville, Ohio) also helped to lead the first day Buckeye contingent with an impressive sixth place performance in the College Women’s Shot Put Championship.
Keir posted a 51-3.75 NCAA regional qualifying mark to claim sixth, while Smith, who competed in her first event since April 5, captured fourth with a 5-8.75. Both marks serve as NCAA regional qualifiers.
In other field events, fellow throwers Erin Carter (Sr., Logan, Ohio), Amarachi Ukabam and Alexis McCall placed 1-2-3 in the women’s shot put event with each scoring a career-best performance. Carter, with a 50-9.50, took first, while Ukabam scored second with a 50-7.50. McCall (Elyria, Ohio) followed with a third place and season-benchmark of 50-6.25.
Elsewhere in the throws, sophomore Shelaine Larson (Ventura, Calif.) gained a fifth place standing in the women’s hammer with a 183-3.
Ohio State junior Dalanda Jackson (Cleveland, Ohio) helped open the festival as she competed in the first event of the day with a season-best 1:01.14 to claim 22nd in the College Women 400-meter Hurdles Championships. Jackson’s time serves as a qualifier for the NCAA Mideast Regionals May 30 and 31 at Ohio State’s Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium. Elsewhere, the Ohio State 4×400-meter relay squad marked a time of 3:50.24 to place fifth in its heat.
Ohio State competes in the Penn Relays through Saturday with events beginning Friday at 9 a.m.
###Go Bucks###
