The 120th Penn Relays begins today in Philadelphia, Penn. The LSU women’s track and field team enters the competition ranked No. 8 nationally, according to U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association, while the LSU men’s team enters ranked No. 20.
The event is the oldest track and field competition in the U.S., and the University of Pennsylvania’s Franklin Field has hosted the relays since 1895.
LSU track and field coach Dennis Shaver wants his team to understand that not only is this event a special opportunity for any NCAA athlete, but it must also maintain constant focus and continue to develop as it reaches the end of the outdoor season.
“To us, it’s about building from one meet to the next to the next,” Shaver said. “Every meet plays a significant role in a season.”
The last multi-day meet the Tigers and Lady Tigers competed in was March 27-29 at the Texas Relays. With only the LSU Invitational remaining in the regular season, the Penn Relays will be the last time LSU will see many non-Southeastern Conference competitors until NCAA Preliminaries begin May 29.
Junior thrower Rodney Brown said this meet could possibly catapult the Tigers into a championship postseason, but he and his teammates must concentrate on their technique and not try to live up to the competition.
“My focus is staying within myself,” Brown said. “I feel that’s what everyone has been doing: getting within themselves and finding a way to better compete.”
After etching her name into the top spot for longest hammer throw in LSU history, senior Denise Hinton won the event for a third consecutive weekend at last week’s LSU Alumni Gold. Hinton said she is excited to return after claiming second place in last year’s Penn Relays.
“I’m hoping to win it this year,” Hinton said. “We have never had a female win the hammer throw there, and it would be a great accomplishment if I could be the first to do it.”
Hinton will be competing in her third Penn Relays, and she said she and a former teammate were recently reminiscing over old photographs from years past. As the Peachtree City, Ga., native’s LSU career comes to an end, she wants to show people she has been saving her best for last.
“I’ve been building it every year, and now I’m on a roll,” Hinton said. “I’m ready to do some big stuff. I’m ready to end on a high note.”