The LSU track and field team will venture north for the 118th historic Penn Relays at Franklin Field at the University of Pennsylvania, beginning Thursday.
LSU coach Dennis Shaver said his team is prepared for any obstacles it may encounter, even with the recent blizzard that struck Pennsylvania.
“The weather conditions are always a challenge, the warm-up areas are always a challenge … but it’s the same for everybody,” Shaver said. “We’re going to go there and try to execute and get a little bit better in the relays.”
The Lady Tigers enter the meet red-hot, with their 4×100-meter, 4×200-meter, sprint medley and distance medley relay teams all ranked No. 1 in the NCAA. The 4×400-meter relay team ranks second in the NCAA after setting a seasonal best at the Texas Relays in March.
Junior standout Kimberlyn Duncan said the meet serves as a precursor to the NCAA Championship Meet, with some of the nation’s top teams in attendance.
“This is the closest we’re going to get to NCAAs, because I’m pretty sure all the other teams will run their ‘A’ teams,” Duncan said. “That’s us being able to line up with our competition that we will be running against in NCAAs.”
Sophomore Jasmin Stowers will return to defend her title in the 100-meter hurdles, a title she captured in her first Penn Relays appearance last season.
Senior Cassandra Tate said her last relay meet will be a complete team effort, with each runner feeding off the vibes of teammates.
“We’re doing it together, with each other. … It’s a big chance for us to run together at our last relay meet,” Tate said.
The Tigers are paced by the No. 3-ranked 4×200-meter relay team and No. 4-ranked 4×400-meter team, along with three other relay teams within the NCAA top ten.
The Tigers made history in the meet last season, sweeping the 4×100 and the 4×200-meter relay titles, running the second-fastest time in the 4×100-meter relay.
Tate said the conditions may be unfavorable, but the meet will be a thrilling end to the regular season.
“It’s exciting because you’ll see everybody there, and it’s exciting to compete against everybody else,” Tate said.
 
 
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Contact Chandler Rome at [email protected]