The UConn men’s and women’s track and field teams are headed to Philadelphia this weekend to compete in the 130th running of the Penn Relays at Franklin Field, starting Thursday and running through Saturday.
The Penn Relays have been held at Franklin Field, the nation’s oldest flip-out stadium, since 1895. A wheel (a wooden plaque awarded to relay champions) is a career-defining accomplishment for a track athlete. The atmosphere, which attracts more than 100,000 spectators, turns the event from a typical invitational into a high-stakes international platform.
After a strong performance at the UConn Northeast Challenge, UConn heads into the weekend. Josh Mooney and Maresa Hense, who both won Big East Field Athlete of the Week, were two of the Huskies’ record-breaking performances that helped them defend their home field. The multi-event units are excelling at a national level thanks to Mooney’s exceptional decathlon score of 8,033 points and Hense’s school-record heptathlon.
Orenthal Singletary will compete in the championship class 400-meter hurdles for the men on Thursday. Luke DeCresdenzo, Marshall Potter and Alex Krause will compete in the hammer throw.
Sascha Letica and Chloe Trudel, both in the championship level, will compete in the 5,000 and 10,000 meters on Thursday.
Sarah Trainor in the 3,000-meter steeplechase and Jessica Starr and Kiley Shatzel in the 400-meter hurdles are also competing in the championship category of events. Gabriela DeFelice will compete in the hammer throw on the track.
William Watson and Mohamed Wahdan will compete in the 100-meter hurdles on Friday, along with the track’s 4×100, 4×400 and distance medley relays. Potter and Nicholas Connolly will compete in the shot put, Krause and Connolly in the discus, Wyatt Martin in the pole vault, Emi Erekosima in the triple jump. as Derek Shimer in the high jump.
Brooklyn Taylor and teams competing in the 4×100, 4×400, spring medley and distance medley relays will compete in the women’s 100-meter hurdles on Friday. Kaylee Meyer will compete in the high jump, followed by Rachel Mason, Piper Linn, Abigail Bernas and Katie Floering in the pole vault; Maresa Hense and Jaidah in the long jump. Matilda Brockley in the triple jump in the field events. Caitlin Dumouchel will compete in the javelin, DeFelice in the discus and Sinclaire Fryer, Ella Karp and Brooklynn Roberts in the shot put.
Enaji Muhammad will compete in the men’s high jump final division as the competition comes to a close on Saturday. Connor Hayford and Thomas Bannon will compete in the Javelin championship class.