April 25, 2009

PHILADELPHIA – Senior Jason Richardson won his third Penn Relays Championships of America title in four years as the reigning NCAA Champion won the 110m hurdles at 13.56. The six-time All-American ties the Penn Relays record for most championships in the event and is the first man to win three 110m hurdles titles in a career since Larry Wade earned his third title in 1998.

Richardson won his first carnival championship as a sophomore in 2006 at 13.73 before winning his second title last year at 13.68. In 2005 as a freshman, Richardson was the runner-up in the event at 13.76 He did not compete in 2007 due to taking a medical redshirt year. He finishes as the sixth in an elite group of hurdlers to achieve three wins in the 115 years of the Penn Relays.

“It feels good to go out there and perform at such a big meet,” Richardson said. “Penn is like nationals; you just have to get through it. I competed here four times and three out of four isn’t bad.”

Richardson’s weekend was a big in preparing him for conference and nationals as it was the first meet that he was able to go at full strength since missing the NCAA Indoor Championships with a strained hamstring. He responded in the prelims yesterday with a win at 13.44, the fourth fastest time run at the relays.

“I’m refocused,” Richardson said. “This is my first big meet back. I’ve been working with Andy Miller who is an amazing massage guru on the professional circuit. With his confidence that I could make it back, that was all I needed to go out and run.”

Sophomore All-American Johnny Dutch took sixth in the final at 14.16. Carolina was the only school to qualify two athletes in the 110m hurdles finals.

The men’s 4x100m relay opened the day for Carolina in the consolation final and responded with a season best 39.52 to win the event. The team of Johnathan Hancock, Antonio Sales, Quentin Moore and Obakeng Ngwigwa ran a full second faster than Friday’s heat race and finished with the fifth fastest time of the day – only four of the teams in the championship final ran a faster time.

The women’s mile relay brought Carolina its third win of the day with a time of 3:36.71 in the consolation final for the team’s fastest time this season. Brandi Cross, Breehana Jacobs, Janica Austin and Gabrielle Glenn combined for the win.

Obakeng Ngwigwa, Antonio Sales, Quentin Moore and Aaron Anderson took third in the 4x200m Championship of America with a school record 1:21.60, breaking a nine-year old record of 1:21.94. The men’s mile relay team of Ngwigwa, Richardson, Johnny Dutch and Aaron Anderson came in fourth in the Championship of America with a season best time of 3:03.89.

Senior Johnathan Hancock and sophomore Lakya Brookins both placed third in the 100m dash championships. Hancock ran 10.44 while Brookins, the NCAA Indoor Champion in the 60m dash, ran an 11.32.

Junior Elliott Haynie took sixth in the pole vault championships with a clearance of 17-00.75 (5.20m). His top mark this year is 17-10.50 (5.45m).

Sophomore Michael Zajac placed fifth in the hammer throw at 200-04 (61.08m). Junior Erik Heymann placed 10th in the javelin throw at 174-09 (53.28m). Danielle Barnes placed ninth in the women’s Olympic Development mile run at 5:06.72.

No 8/20 South Carolina has next week off before returning to the track May 8 at the UNC Elite Meet. The team will then travel to Gainesville, Fla., for the SEC Outdoor Championships held May 14-17.