In what will be the final tuneup meet before the Southeastern Conference Outdoor Championships, the LSU track and field teams will travel to historic Franklin Field in Philadelphia to compete in the Penn Relay Carnival beginning today.
The meet will last until Saturday and will also conclude the 2013 regular season for both the men’s and women’s teams.
“The Penn Relays is truly one of the unique events in our sport,” said LSU coach Dennis Shaver. “The history there is something you can’t help but appreciate. We hope to be a part of that history each time we’re there.”
The LSU women’s team is the most successful program in the meet’s 119-year history, claiming 44 relay wins at the Penn Relays. The Lady Tigers are the reigning champions in both the 4×200-meter relay and the shuttle hurdle relay, but they will not compete in either event this weekend.
The Lady Tigers will compete in the first relay final Thursday night in the distance medley. LSU owns the NCAA’s No. 1-ranked time this season at 11 minutes, 23.55 seconds, set at the Texas Relays on March 29.
With a first place finish in the event, the Lady Tigers would continue a streak of 22-straight appearances at the Penn Relays in which the LSU men’s or women’s team has won at least one relay title.
The men’s best chance at a podium position at the relays this weekend comes in the 4×100 relay. The Tigers rank fourth nationally in the event with a top time of 39.24.
In the individual events, LSU junior Jasmin Stowers will look to continue her historic run at the Penn Relays. Last year she became the first Lady Tiger in meet history to win two Penn Relay titles in the 100-meter hurdles, taking the crown in back-to-back seasons.