M. Track sets 4x200 school record -twice- at Relays

Every year, the Penn men's track team says it is going to be more than just the host of the country's largest annual track and field event. And although it doesn't happen every year, last weekend Penn certainly performed proved that it can compete, not just lend its name to, the Penn Relay Carnival. The 4x200 meter relay team broke the school record not once, but twice in one weekend. The Quakers broke the mark first on Friday in their qualifying heat and then broke the one-day-old record in the Championship of America heat on Saturday. But Penn's school-best time of 1 minute, 24.13 seconds was good for only fifth place in the Championship of America. "It's a big accomplishment to make it to the Championship of America," Quakers junior sprinter Greg Davis said. "I was excited that we qualified. I think we gained a little respect today." Davis ran the opening leg on both the 4x200 and 4x100 relay teams. Joining him on the 4x200 squad were sophomore Kael Coleman, senior Clive Brown and senior co-captain Chris Harper. Harper was running in the second Championship of America heat of his career, but felt he performed better this time. "It's awesome," Harper said. "There's nothing like it. Today was a more satisfying experience. We sent a huge message out to the league that we're ready to compete." The 4x100 squad -- which was comprised of Harper, Brown, Davis and Henry Addo -- won the IC4A division championship with a time of 40.74 seconds. "That's the race we've been looking for for three years now," Davis said. "It finally came together at Penn Relays." The 4x400 relay team competed in the IC4A division using a B squad in order to rest the regulars for next week's Heptagonal Championships. Penn still ran a competitive race, finishing fifth in 3:17.86. "I think Penn represented itself very well this weekend on the national level," said Quakers junior Louis Juliano, who anchored the Quakers 4x400 squad. The Penn jumping squad also performed well at the Relays. Senior co-captain Greg Schroeder jumped a personal record of 16 feet, 6 3/4 inches and finished second in the college division of the pole vault. Although he jumped the same height as Princeton's George Baldock, Schroeder placed second because of previous missed attempts. Quakers freshman Rich Carlson placed third in the men's Eastern high jump competition with a leap of 6 feet, 9 inches. Penn senior co-captain Dave Rechtweg placed sixth in the college division with a jump of 6-7 1/2. Penn freshmen Dan Nord and J.P. Pollak took third and fourth, respectively, in their first Relays triple jump competition as collegians. Nord jumped 47-9 1/4, and Pollak leaped 49-4 1/4. The Quakers now they look forward to the Heps at Yale this weekend. "Everyone in the league is here this weekend and they saw what we did," Penn assistant coach Matt Levine said. "They'll be fired up going into Heps. We can't be complacent because they'll be gunning for us."