PHILADELPHIA - Strong showings from the distance runners and Michelle Sutherland in the high jump carried the Rockets track and field team at day one of the prestigious Penn Relays, which concluded late Thursday night after a weather delay.

Sutherland finished fifth out of 21 jumpers with a mark of 5-6.00 to pace UT's field athletes in Thursday's competition. Kiah Douglas also competed, and she placed 19th in the long jump with a mark of 18-1.75.

Dagna Sztykiel took 10th in the 3000-meter steeplechase (10:47.86), less than a second away from her own personal mark of 10:47.02 set last year. Ari Fisher placed 12th out of 27 runners in the 3000-meter with her time of 9:51.96, which is the fourth-best in school history.

In the 10,000-meter run, Audra Brown crossed the line 17th of 35 runners in a time of 36:18.89, good for 11th on the school's list. Lindsay Toussant, meanwhile, finished 30th in 5000-meter run (18:00.30).

Toledo's relay team in the 4x400 also had great success, taking 35th of 89 teams with a mark of 3:48.08, the fastest UT time in the last 15 years. The squad was comprised of Kimara Morgan, Amanda Kaverman, Danielle Jacoby and Sarah Woodrum.

The Penn Relays are the largest annual track and field meet in the United States and the largest annual relay meet in the world. The Rockets will continue competing there this weekend as well as at the Hillsdale Relays, hosted by Hillsdale College.

Contact: Scott Miles
scott.miles@utoeldo.edu