St. John's Gears Up for 125th Running of the Penn Relays

Thursday, April 25

Philadelphia, PA

St. John's University

Penn Relays

St. John's Gears Up for 125th Running of the Penn Relays

4/24/2019 10:59:00 AM | Women's Track and Field

The Red Storm will compete in 11 events over three days

By: Dylan Smith

QUEENS, N.Y. (April 24, 2019) – Coming off of a performance that saw the St. John's track & field team claim the Metropolitan Outdoor Championship for the second-straight season, the Johnnies head to Franklin Field at the University of Pennsylvania for the 125th running of the Penn Relays on April 25-27.

The Red Storm scored six first-place finishes and 17 medals to reclaim its Metropolitan title on April 13.

Among the top finishers was the 4x100 meter relay squad composed of Ja'Tae Joyner, Leah Anderson, Skyy Diop and Destiny Davis. The team continued its dominance in the event, racing around the track in 46.93 seconds to earn the top spot, winning their third race this season. This foursome is also slated to run in the 4x200 meter relay.

Joyner is also expected to compete in both jumping events this weekend after setting a new career-record in the long jump at 5.93 meters to earn second place. Her triple jump distance of 11.13 also scored St. John's four points.

Also hitting the relay track for the Red Storm will be the 4x400 meter relay team of Torisha LaForce, Chenoa Sebastian, Kafi Ottley, and Anderson. This will be the first time these four Johnnies will race in an event for the first time since the Stanford Invitational on March 29-30, posting an ECAC qualifying time of 3:43.61. LaForce and Sebastian are also scheduled to compete in the 400 meter hurdles.

Junior Amarys Berry is slated to compete in the shot put event on Friday afternoon. The Johnnies' leading shot putter posted a winning performance in the discipline at the Metropolitan Outdoor Championships, recording a distance of 14.63 meters. The Hackensack, N.J. native also added a personal-best hammer throw mark of 45.40 meters to earn BIG EAST Field Athlete of the Week following the championship meet. Joining Berry in the shot put will be Samantha Morillo, Bernadette McGowan, Ashley Walsh, and Najeaya Singleton.

Jennifer Odoemene also reached the podium's top pedestal, tossing the hammer throw a career-best 55.55 meters to secure first place. The West Orange, N.J., native will also participate alongside Morillo in the discus throw.

Coming off of a personal record at the Metropolitan Championships, javelin thrower Esmeralda Reyes will look to reach the podium for the third straight week. Her 43.65-meter mark at the Bauer Track and Field Complex earned her third place in New Jersey. Prior that performance, the New Milford, N.J., native captured first place at the Sam Howell Invitational with a distance of 43.20 meters.

The historic meet welcomes runners from around the world at all levels, including junior high, high school, collegiate and professional. Since its inaugural event in 1895, thousands of people have competed in the Penn Relays, ranging from politicians and celebrities to astronauts and inventors.

The University of Pennsylvania expanded its legendary meet beyond the national borders in 1914 when Oxford University became the first international program to compete at the event. The Penn Relays eventually become a place for Olympic development in 1956, welcoming women for the first time in 1962. The Relays embraced the globe with the USA vs. the World section in 2000.