University of Connecticut Athletics
University of Connecticut
Penn Relays
UConn Distance Relay Sets School Record at Penn Relays
4/30/2022 9:04:00 PM | Men's Track and Field
PHILADELPHIA, Pa. - The UConn men's track and field program competed at the 126th running of the Penn Relays at Franklin Field this weekend in their final competiton before the 2022 BIG EAST Championship meet on their home track in two weeks. The Huskies also sent a small group of athletes to compete at the UMass Outdoor Invitaitonal on Saturday.
THe UConn Distance Medley Relay team of Joseph Pearl (Manchester, Conn), Wellington Ventura (Cresskill, NJ), Mahamed Sharif (Westbrook, Maine) and Eric Van Der Els (Norwalk, Conn.) broke the school record in the event that was set back in 2000 at the Penn Relays as well. In addition, the Huskies got their first-ever Penn Relay Individual Champion as junior Travis Snyder (Saco, Maine) won the college championship in the pole vault.Â
"It was great to be back at the Penn Relays," stated Director of Cross Country and Track & Field Greg Roy. "A productive weekend at a very high level entering the Championship season. A great DMR race, where we set a new school record and were in the lead until the last 50 meters. Travis Snyder huge win in the pole vault. Danny Claxton with a season best performance and great to see Richmond Kwaateng finish fourth in the Championship long jump.   Chris Lepore with a great performance in the steeplechase, nearly won it and had the second fastest time in school history. And a great effort from our three guys in the javelin."
On the track…
- In the Championship of America distance medley relay, the UConn foursome of Pearl leading off to Ventura, Sharif and Van Der Els on the anchor placed third overall and clocked in at 9:30.31 to set a new school record. The break the previous mark of 9:33.02 set in 2000.
- The UConn 4x100 relay team of Josiah Thompson (Jamaica, NY), Conor Mahoney, Aaron Hackett (Upper Marlboro, Md.) and Joseph O'Brien (Lowell, Mass.) took third in the college race, posting a time of 40.89 seconds.
- The 4x800 meter relay team of Mahamed Sharif (Westbrook, Maine), Marzio Mastroianni (Branford, Conn.), Joshua Bedard (Tolland, Conn.) and Pearl placed ninth in the Championship of America race, clocking in at 7:30.89.
- Sophomore Chris Lepore (Trumbull, Conn.) finished third in the championship running of the 3000 meter steeplechase. Lepore clocked in at 8:50.87, a new PR by nearly 20 seconds and the fastest time by a Husky in the event this season.
- Senior James Maniscalco (Fairfield, Conn.) took ninth in the 5000 meters championship race, finishing in 13:57.20.
- Junior Wellington Ventura (Cresskill, NJ) was fifth in the 400 meter hurdles championship race with a time of 51.65 seconds.
In the field…
- Junior Travis Snyder (Saco, Maine) won the pole vault championship event, posting his best height this spring at 5.32 meters. Junior Tyler Hrbek (Northvale, NJ) won the college pole vault competition, clearing a height of 5.12 meters.
- Sophomore Richmond Kwaateng (Lowell, Mass.) took fourth in the college championship long jump with a leap of 7.24 meters.
- Senior Daniel Claxton (Nesconset, NY) had his best height of the spring in the champions high jump, finishing seventh at 2.09 meters. Freshman Kasey Savage (Tolland, Conn.) set a new PR and finished fifth in the college high jump competition, clearing a height of 2.04 meters.
- Sophomore Colin Winkler (Barkhamsted, Conn.) set a new PR and finished second in the college javelin throw. Winkler had a throw of 65.73 meters on his last attempt. Freshman Gabriel Fountain (Manchester, Conn.) was fourth and also set a new PR, posting a throw of 63.87 meters. Sophomore Tanner Jameson (Durham, Conn.) was sixth at 61.16 meters.
- Senior Chris Keegan (West Hartford, Conn.) was 11th in the championship hammer throw, posting a mark of 58.75 meters.
At UMass
- Sophomore Kevin Cawley (Massapequa, NY) ran a new PR in the 1500 meters to finish third overall in 3:49.49.
- Sophomore Tyler Lyon (Albuquerque, N.M.) was fifth in the discus and set a new PR at 46.36 meters.
Players Mentioned
