Maryland Highlights From Penn Relays

A big weekend for the state of Maryland at the Penn Relays with two victories and plenty of fast times run at Franklin Field. 

Leading off the weekend was Northwood senior Eldad Mulugeta winning the boys 3K in 8:29.05. Mulugeta closed fast over the last 400 to grab a monumental victory for Maryland distance running. Mulugeta was one of 7 Maryland runners who qualified to compete in the field showcasing the depth that the state is experiencing this year at the 3K/2 mile/3200 meter distances. 

An even better display of depth by Maryland talent came in the girls long jump as the state went a remarkable 1-2-3 in the event with McDonogh School's Jada Seaman as the event winner with a leap of 19'6" and followed by a Bullis School pair of Lauryn Harris (18'10.75") and Aniella Delafosse (18'10").

Closing out the meet for Team Maryland was the Bullis School boys holding their own against the top Jamaican squads to finish third (3:14.40) in the Championship of America 4x400 meter relay after a 3:13.80 performance in the prelims as the top qualifiers. After setting the indoor national record this winter at the VA Showcase, Bullis clearly had the firepower to matchup with all 4 legs splitting sub 50 seconds in the qualifier heat and Championship of America finals. The quartet included Andre Turay, Ryan Willie, Jay Pendarvis, and Ashton Allen


Their female counterparts held their own as well as the Bullis girls were the top American squad in the Championship of America 4x400 meter relay finals with a fourth place season best run of 3:44.12. Their squad had 3 legs split 55 seconds with Lauryn Harris, Sierra Leonard, and Leah Phillips. Phillips also finished 5th individually in the girls 400 meter hurdles with a 59.05 personal best clocking.

The Chopticon boys improved upon their state leading time in the 4x800 meter relay in making the Championship of America finals with an eighth place run of 7:52.41 including two 1:54 splits by Dylan McMahan and Tyler Modrzejewski.

The Mount De Sales Academy girls were right in contention with some of the top distance medley relay squads in the nation as they finished 4th in the event with a state leading and the nation's fifth fastest performance at 11:50.12. They fnished ahead of a Katelyn Tuohy anchored North Rockland squad and just behind powerhouse squads Fayetteville-Manlius (1st, 11:45), and Saratoga Springs (3rd, 11:49).

The Severna Park girls also excelled at Penn Relays making it into the Championship of America finals of the 4x800 meter relay to finish 6th overall and post the fastest time this spring in Maryland with a 9:19.57 performance as Emily Knight opened up for them with a 2:14 split.

Oxon Hill senior Sarah George recorded a state leading throw of 43'5.25" to finish fifth overall in the girls shot put competition. The two-time 3A state shot put champion has consistently been well over 40 feet this season and was an All-American indoors in the event with a 44'4" personal best.