Mississippi State Goes the Distance on Day One of Penn Relays
PHILADELPHIA, Pa. - Day one of the historic Penn Relays has come to a close and with it came six Top 15 finishes for Mississippi State, including a Top 5 finish by one Maroon and White distance runner.
"It is always good to get that first day out of the way," coach Steve Dudley said. "We have crossed that first hurdle, now the nervousness of the unexpected can disappear and make way for the excitement and adrenaline of competing."
John Valentine was the top finishing Bulldog as he jumped hurdles, splashed through water and ran multiple laps to post a third place time of 9:08.95 in the 3,000-meter steeplechase. Fellow distance runner Cameron Vernier closed out action for the Bulldogs as he finished 10th in the 5,000-meter run with a personal best time of 14:37.75.
Favian Cowards led the way for the MSU women as she threw 187-04 to place sixth in the hammer throw. Cowards' fellow field teammates were up next as Rochelle Farquharson (19-07) and Erica Bougard (19-04) landed at eighth and 12th respectively in the long jump.
Bougard next teamed up with Jody-Ann Muir, Brittney Covington and Ocian Archer to close out the Maroon and White female action, as the foursome was 15th in the 4x400-meter relay (3:33.78).
Day two action at Franklin Field will come early for MSU, as Nathan Arnett starts things off in the 400-meter hurdles at 9 a.m.
Women
400m Hurdles: Latoya Griffith, Illinois, 57.88
MSU: 20. Brittney Covington, 1:01.59; 46. Ocian Archer, 63.75
4x400m Relay: Oregon, 3:33.78
MSU: 15. Muir, Bougard, Covington, Archer, 3:41.96
Hammer Throw: Melissa Kurzdorfer, Penn State, 205-01
MSU: 6. Favian Cowards, 187-04
Discus Throw: Amber Monroe, Miami, 168-09
MSU: 26. Favian Cowards, 132-0
Long Jump: Julienne Mckee, Georgia Tech, 20-05.75
MSU: 8. Rochelle Farquharson, 19-07; 12. Erica Bougard, 19-04; 17. Ebony Brinker,18-09.25
Men
3,000m Steeplechase: Isaac Spencer, Texas A&M, 9:02.20
MSU: 3. John Valentine, 9:08.95
5,000m Run:
MSU: 10. Cameron Vernier, 14:37.75
