Three Strong Performances Close Penn Relays For Duke

Saturday, April 25

Philadelphia, Pa.

All Day

Duke University

Day Three

Three Strong Performances Close Penn Relays For Duke

4/25/2009 5:45:00 PM | Track & Field

By: Duke Sports Information

PHILADELPHIA ? The Duke men's and women's track & field squads fittingly turned to their relay teams during day three of the historic Penn Relays, and received three strong performances Saturday afternoon to close out competition at the University of Pennsylvania's Franklin Field.

The Duke men's Championship of America 4xMile relay took sixth in 16:32.40, the second-best all-time mark at Duke. The squad was in eighth with a lap to go, before anchor Cory Nanni passed runners from Penn State and Michigan to propel the Blue Devils into sixth. Josua Lund led off in 4:10.2, handing off to Ryan McDermott in 4:10.0 and Bo Waggoner in 4:08.6. Nanni then turned in a lifetime-best 4:03.4 to close it out.

The women's college 4x800m relay team of Leslie Morrison (2:13.0), Esther Vermeer (2:11.9), Emily Schwitzer (2:13.9), and Devotia Moore (2:11.6) took second in a total time of 8:50.95, good for an ECAC qualifier.

Then, the college men's 4x800m team took fourth in 7:31.92, an IC4A mark, as Sean Pat Oswald led off in 1:54.2 before freshman Stephen Clark notched his second PR of the weekend in the 800m, splitting 1:50.9 for Duke's fastest outdoor 800 this year. McDermott and Nanni then doubled back in the event in 1:54.1 and 1:52.6, respectively.

“Overall we saw a great weekend ? this is one of the best showings Duke has had at Penn in years,” said Director of Track & Field Norm Ogilvie. “We're excited to return home next weekend.”

The Blue Devils will host their second home meet of the spring next Sunday, May 3, at Wallace Wade Stadium in the annual Duke/asics Twilight.

-d-u-k-e-