Tampa, Fla., April 28, 2023 – The University of South Florida track and field team kicked off the 127th edition of the Penn Relays by winning the 4x200m Relay in Philadelphia, Pa.
"Penn Relays can sometimes be about survival of the fittest in difficult circumstances," head coach Erik Jenkins said, "The weather was less than ideal today but the opportunity to compete in the largest meet in the US was still there. We had some good performances and some that weren't great. However, the highlight so far is the women's 4x200 and their Championship of America win. Those big Penn Relays wheels are hard to come by and are one of tracks most revered awards."
Penn Relays
The women's 4x200 relay of Je'Nyia Burton, Shaniya Benjamin, Terren Peterson, and Doneisha Anderson posted a time of 1:36.45, earning first place in the Women's Championship of America section.
Tomorrow, Nia Robinson represents in the Bulls in the women's high jump and long jump. Benjamin will return to the field to also compete in the long jump. NCAA Indoor National Champion Romaine Beckford competes in the men's high jump at 2:30 p.m.
UNF East Coast Relays
Kobe Babin tied for third place in the men's pole vault with a mark of 5.05 meters (16-6.75). Stone Baker finished seventh with 4.90m (16-0.75).
Arden La-Rose and Victoria Valdez both posted new personal records in the women's 1500m with 4:36.24 and 4:50.64, respectively. Jesse Benavides also improved his personal record in the men's competition with a final time of 3:59.77.
Victor Steiner wrapped up the first day of competition in Jacksonville for the Bulls with a season-best mark of 7.04m (23-1.25) in the men's long jump.
Tomorrow, Johann Jeremiah kicks off the field events for USF in the discus, while Carolyn Brown, La-Rose, Valdez, Alyssa Wyatt, Benavides and Ezekiel Shore start off the running events.
USF Track and Field
The USF track and field team has earned 56 All-American selections and at least one All-American in 10 of the last 12 years, including a record eight athletes claiming 11 honors in 2021. Romaine Beckford won the 2023 NCAA Indoor Championship in the men's high jump. Tampa native Shaniya Benjamin set a program record earning three All-American honors during the 2021 outdoor season, while triple jumper Matthew O'Neal, a 2016 graduate, became USF's first six-time NCAA All-American. Bulls have posted two NCAA runner-up finishes since 2013 - O'Neal (triple jump, 2016) and Courtney Anderson (high jump, 2013). Head coach Erik Jenkins took over the program in 2020 and in the 2021 outdoor season the Bulls posted seven program records and 40 top 10 all-time program marks. USF hosted the 2018 NCAA Track and Field East Preliminary and the 2021 AAC Outdoor Championship at the USF Track and Field Stadium located on the east end of campus.
– #GoBulls –
