April 27, 2007

PHILADELPHIA - Eight members of the Duquesne track & field team are participating in the Penn Relays that began yesterday morning. The event which is held has been an annual event since 1895 and attracts over 15,000 participants from high schools, colleges, and track clubs throughout North America and abroad.

This year, the Dukes competed in five events on the event's first day in front of 23,996 people at the University of Pennsylvania's Franklin Field. Melissa Stewart placed in the top half of the field in the discus throw. A distance of 141-7.25" was good for 14th place in a field of 30. Stewart finished 21st in the shot put with a throw of 40-3.5"

The team of Shonte Cook, Melissa Miller, Ashley Earnest and Erica Moody were the first to represent the Red & Blue, as they ran the 4x100 relay. The foursome did not finish in their heat as St. Augustine's won the heat.

Miller, Kathy Parker, Charlene Garth and Moody crossed sixth out of nine teams in the 4x400. Their time of 3:59.30 was just over five second behind first place Wheaton College.

Samantha Howard's time of 17:58.95 in the 5000m Championship was 28th in a field of 31 runners.

The 113th running of this event concludes tomorrow afternoon.