PHILADELPHIA, Pa. -- The Villanova men's 1600-meter relay squad captured the IC4A division championship of the race, highlighting the final day of competition at the Penn Relay Carnival. The 104th running of the Relays took place from April 23-25, 1998, at Franklin Field in Philadelphia.
The Wildcat quartet of Greg Young (So., Wilmington, Mass), Michael Brown (Fr., Mt. Holly, N.J.) and Maulan Byron (So., St. Vincents, West Indies), and All-American Kareem Archer (Sr., Plainfield, N.J.) posted a time of 3:08.50, edging out runner-up Pittsburgh, which recorded a mark of 3:09.03. Penn and Seton Hall finished third and fourth, respectively. The highlight of the race came on the second leg when Brown sizzled, posting a personal-best 45.8 on his 400-meter leg.
In the individual running events, Charmaine Walker (Fr., Plainfield, N.J.) was the bright spot, recording a personal-best in the 100-meter hurdles with a time of 13.15 to place third overall and reset the Villanova school record in the event. Walker surpassed Kia Davis, who posted a run of 13.28 in the race in 1997. The Big East Conference indoor champion in the 55-meter hurdles and an All-American in that event, Walker finished behind Angie Vaughn of Texas (12.80, Penn Relays record) and Lacena Golding of Auburn (13.00).
Behind the inspired running of Carmen Douma (So., Cambridge, Ontario), the Villanova Wildcat women captured second place in the College Distance Medley Relay Championship, held on Saturday afternoon. The Wildcats posted a time of 11:07.30 in the DMR, narrowly behind champion Wisconsin, which finished the race in 11:06.88. Tamieka Grizzle (So., Bronx, N.Y.), handled the leadoff 1200-meter leg, while Leashia Rahr (So., Syracuse, N.Y.) ran the 400-meter portion of the grueling race. Lony'e Johnson (So., Wilmington, Del.) was assigned to the 800-meter duties, while Douma ran the tough 1600-meter anchor leg.
Douma came from approximately 40-meters back to nearly take the lead at the finish line, posting the fastest 1600-meter time in the race with a mark of 4:35.5. When she took the baton, the All-American was in fourth place, but she charged ahead, overtaking runners from Tulane and Stanford before challenging Wisconsin's Sara Frederickson for the DMR title.
The Wildcat women competed in two other relays during the week, finishing third in both the 3200-meter relay and 6000-meter relay. Douma and Grizzle ran on each of these relays, with the duo teaming up with Johnson and Kristen Nicolini (Jr., Annapolis, Md.) to put in a strong effort in the 3200-meter relay competition. Villanova clocked in at 8:41.53, finishing behind Georgetown (8:36.16) and Florida (8:38.78) in a heroic performance. In the 6000-meter relay, Ann McGranahan (Fr., Pensacola, Fla.) joined Grizzle (leadoff), Nicolini (second leg) and Douma (anchor). The quartet placed behind Wisconsin (17:40.30) and Stanford (17:48.52).
The Wildcat men also competed in three relays during the three-day affair. On the second day of competition, the Wildcat entry of Scott Tantino (So., North Wales, Pa.), Michael Brown (Fr., Mt. Holly, N.J.), Coulby Dunn (Jr., Greentown, Pa.) and Dean Smith (So., Phoenix, Md.) placed 11th in the distance medley relay with a time of 9:44.65. On the final day of the Relays, the men's 4xone mile squad of Tantino, Dunn, Smith, and Brock Butler (Jr., West Chester, Pa.) finished 14th in 16:48.31.
Freshman Barry Flicker continued to impress in his debut with the Wildcats, finishing fifth overall in the javelin throw with a mark of 210-0, just four inches away from third place and the best throw of the season for Flicker and the Wildcats. Vic Morency of Massachusetts won the title with a throw of 215-11. Other competitors for the Wildcats were Steve Bienko, who placed 11th in the discus with a toss of 164-10, and Sarah Hunt, who recorded a personal-best with a mark of 152-01 in the hammer throw to place 11th as well.
The 104th Running
of the Pennsylvania Relay Carnival
April 23-25, 1998 - University of Pennsylvania
Franklin Field - Philadelphia, Pa.
Villanova Women's Results3200m Relay3. Villanova *8:41.53 Johnson, Nicolini, Douma, Grizzle6000m Relay3. Villanova 18:00.63 Grizzle, Nicolini, McGranahan, DoumaDistance Medley Relay2. Villanova 11:07.30 Grizzle, Rahr, Johnson, Douma100m Hurdles3. Charmaine Walker $13.15$13.22 trialsHammer Throw11. Sarah Hunt *152-01
VILLANOVA MEN'S RESULTS1600m Relay (IC4A Division)1. Villanova *3:08.50 Young, Brown, Byron, Archer *3:11.28 trialsDistance Medley Relay11. Villanova 9:44.65 Tantino, Brown, Dunn, Smith4xOne Mile Relay14. Villanova 16:48.31 Tantino, Dunn, Smith, Butler400m Hurdles7. Kareem Archer *51.30Javelin Throw5. Barry Flicker *210-00Discus Throw11. Steve Bienko *164-10*ECAC/IC4A Qualifying mark;$NCAA Provisional qualifying mark.
