April 27, 2018
Philadelphia - The Auburn women's 4x100m relay won the prestigious Penn Relays College Championship of America title with a time of 44.14 at historic Franklin Field Friday. The quartet of freshman Renae Shaw, seniors Jonielle Smith and Dominique Bullock and sophomore Natalliah Whyte became Auburn's first 4x100m relay champions at Penn Relays since 1993.
The women's relay is the second event winner in two days for Auburn. Junior Kylee Carter won the women's javelin throw on Thursday with a school record throw of 54.78m/179-8.
On the men's side, the 4x400m relay of Joshua Burks, Akeem Bloomfield, Chiason Tenkiang and Nathon Allen had the fastest qualifying time, crossing in 3:07.72. They will compete on Saturday at 4:55 p.m. CT in the finals of the men's College Invitational looking to win the event for the second consecutive year.
Sophomore All-American sprinter Raheem Chambers had the second fastest qualifying time in the men's 100m dash, winning his heat in 10.45. Chambers will run in Saturday's finals at 2:50 p.m. CT.
Junior long jumper Mark Rubalcaba won a bronze medal with a leap of 7.25m/23-9.5, improving on his fourth place finish at Penn Relays in 2016. In the women's triple jump, senior All-American Jakayla Hand posted a mark of 12.88m/42-9.5 to finish third. It was her fifth consecutive top-three finish in the event this outdoor season.
On the track sprinter Chiason Tenkiang, who ran the third leg of the men's 4x400m relay, was 14th in the 100m dash (10.87), while junior Xavier Coakley was 10th in the men's 110m hurdles (14.22).
Other field competitors in action Friday at the Penn Relays included freshmen Evan Blaire (15.56m/51-0.5) and Benedict Draghi (15.41m/50-6.5) who were 19th and 22nd, respectively, in the men's shot put. On the women's side, Ivana Muzaric (49.54m/162-6) was ninth in the discus throw, while Ashley Carter (42.93m/140-10) and Kendra Mitchell (42.54m/139-6) were seventh and eighth, respectively, in the javelin.
The final day of the Penn Relays kick off Saturday with senior Justin Carter in the men's javelin at 9 a.m. CT. Auburn will also have several athletes competing Saturday in the LSU Invitational in Baton Rouge.