Penn Relays Preview 2017- Women

(Oregon-Penn Relays 2016)

The Penn Relays Carnival is the oldest relay carnival in the world and notably the most popular. This event has become an international sensation not just amongst the professional ranks but also among high school and collegiate athletes. With a phenomenal Jamaican presence the event is more like a party. I will be attending the meet for the first time and I am curious to see what the Penn Relays look like with even fewer SEC schools in competition. With the Jamaican schools present it sure to be quite a show. This preview will be all about the relay events and not the individual events at the meet.

4x100 Relay

In the past this event was dominated by LSU and Texas A&M or should I say Pat Henry. Henry has been a part of 19 victories in this event for the women between his two stints at the school. However his Aggies will not be participating. Oregon which has become the new dominant short sprints program has already made headlines this year by breaking the NCAA record twice. Their time of 42.12 is currently the number one ranked time in the NCAA but also the number one ranked time in the world. C.G. Foster of Jamaica will hope to challenge, their season best however is 44.11.

4x200 Relay

Oregon is not listed to compete in this event and it is a bit of a disappointment. The Lady Ducks broke the NCAA record earlier this season at the Florida Relays and became the first team under 1:29. UTech and Oklahoma are listed as the top entrants and UTech has had very recent success at the meet including wining the 4x400 relay.

4x400 Relay

Oregon has won this race twice before and is listed second all time with their winning performance in 2013. They enter the meet with a better time than that and will be challenged by another two time winner in UTech. The Penn Relays record of 3:25.05 held by Texas seems a little out of reach at this point but this should still be a great race. Oregon has new NCAA record holder in the 800 Raevyn Rogers to anchor.

4x800 Relay

This event like so many distance relays here will be between Georgetown, Stanford and Villanova. It is very clear that Georgetown is bringing a strong team to the meet. They are listed here as number one and a very other relays. Stanford will have Olivia Baker and a host of other quality half-milers but Georgetown will look to defend their title and may have the personnel to do so.

4x1500 Relay

This rarely ran event has been dominated by American Universities and that should continue this year. Villanova returns as defending champion and may have an even better squad they enter as the number one seed. Oregon will bring a strong squad that will include freshman stud Katie Rainsberger. For Stanford they will have the luxury of having the number one and number four performances in all the NCAA in the 1,500 both Elise Cranny and Christina Aragon are scheduled to compete.

Distance Medley Relay

Georgetown enters the meet as defending champions but they have an entirely new group, however they are still ranked as the number one seed. They will have to fight off a strong Stanford team that has Olivia Baker and Elise Cranny. Baker is ranked in the top 10 in the NCAA in the 800 while Cranny leads the 1,500 add to that they’ll have Christina Aragon to possibly run the 1,200 leg of the relay. It becomes clear how strong this Stanford team is. Although Georgetown enters as the number one seed I believe the favorite to be Stanford.

Sprint Medley Relay

Oregon is listed as the number one seed in the event and it is easy to see why. Not only do they have Raevyn Rogers running the 800 leg but they have a strong core of sprinters to chose from all of whom have been a part of two record setting sprint relays. In this event like the 4x100 it is Oregon and then there is everyone else.

Shuttle Hurdle Relay

San Diego State enters hear as the number one seed. Micha Auzenne is the top hurdler for the Aztecs and she is currently ranked number 19 in the NCAA with seasons best of 13.19. South Carolina is listed as number two and although they do not have a top 20 athlete competing Curtis Frye and hurdlers have had a great relationship over the years, so do not count them out.