University of Connecticut Athletics
University of Connecticut
Penn Relays
Huskies Headed to Historic Penn Relays
4/27/2022 6:45:00 PM | Men's Track and Field
STORRS, Conn. – The UConn men's track & field team will head to the Penn Relays this weekend as the historic event returns for the first time in two years for it's 126th running. Fans can watch all the action on FloTrack.org.
"The big story of the Penn Relays is that it's back and it's back as good as it ever was," stated Director of Cross Country and Track & Field Greg Roy. "The competition level is way up from where it has been the last decade. For track fans, this is a celebration of our sport. It's going to be great."
"We have our individual events, in the track and field, we want to perform well. It's a great venue, you want to perform well in a great environment where a lot of people are watching. It's an opportunity to celebrate our sport and be in great levels of competition and see athletes from all over the country. We are excited."
The Huskies head into their final weekend of competition before they host the BIG EAST Championship in two weeks. UConn are coming off appearances at the Virginia Challenge and Navy Spring Meet last weekend and held on to the No. 1 spot in the USTFCCCA Northeast Poll this week.
UConn senior Eric Van Der Els (Norwalk, Conn.) had a big weekend at UVA where he broke his own school record in the 5,000 meters, finishing third in the invite race. Van Der Els clocked a time of 13:36.28, breaking the mark of 13:49.16 that he set earlier this spring at the Raleigh Relays. He bursts up the NCAA rankings to 29th.Â
Junior Wellington Ventura (Cresskill, NJ) won the 400 meter hurdles at the UVA meet and is now 44th in the NCAA in the event with a best time of 51.48 seconds. Freshman Mahamed Sharif (Westbrook, Maine) broke into the NCAA rankings in the 800 meters thanks to an eight place finish at UVA with a time of 1:49.23, setting a new PR in the event. The trio of Ventura, Van Der Els and Sharif will be joined by junior Joseph Pearl (Manchester, Conn.) in running the Championships of America distance medley relay event this weekend, one of the premier events with a stacked field at the Penn Relays.
In the field events, junior Travis Snyder (Saco, Maine) earned his second win of the spring in the pole vault, clearing a height of 5.17 meters his best height of the outdoor season at the Navy Spring Invite. He jumps to 55th in the national rankings. Teammate Tyler Hrbek (Northvale, NJ) had his best height as well at Navy, coming in at 5.07 meters and is at 88th in the national rankings.
Following the Penn Relays the Huskies will have a week off before hosting the BIG EAST Outdoor Championship at the George J. Sherman Family Sports Complex on campus on May 13 and 14.
Players Mentioned
