PHILADELPHIA - Highlighted by a Penn Relays Championship of America victory by Corey Murphy and big finishes in two Championship relays, Monmouth's men and women enjoyed a historic Penn Relays performance, as well as strong finishes at the Lehigh Covert Classic this weekend.

On Friday, Murphy, senior captain, added a Penn Relays gold watch to his trophy collection. Murphy won the Championship Shot Put, hitting 61'5.75" (18.74m). He and Houston's Felipe Valencia, 2nd at 60'9", were the only competitors over 60' in rainy conditions, with athletes from Penn State and Clemson placing in 3rd and 4th.

Murphy, a 2nd Team All-American after finishing 12th at NCAA indoor championships, become Monmouth's second individual champion in a Championship section at the Penn Relays in school history. Murphy joins three-time All-American and three-time Olympic Trials qualifier Jon Kalnas '02, who won the shot put title at the Penn Relays in 2001.

Also making history at the 125th Penn Relays was Monmouth's 4x100 relay team. The quartet of Bryan Sosoo, Miguerson Joseph, Nadale Buntin and Khalid Slocum ran a school record time of 40.56 on Friday, finishing fifth of over 60 teams. They advanced to Saturday's Championship of America final, where they placed sixth with a time of 40.59 in front of a crowd of over 48,000 spectators. The winner was the University of Houston squad, coached by Carl Lewis, who now own the second fastest time in the nation this year. It marked the first appearance in a Championship of America final for the Monmouth men.

The Monmouth women's 4x800 team made their third straight appearance in a Championship of America final. After finishing sixth in 2017 and third last year, the Hawks' foursome of Brianna Stratz, Kyra Velock, Chandi Piiru and Allie Wilson were able to finish third again, running 8:37.35 to finish behind Indiana and Virginia Tech. Wilson had the fastest 800 split of all 140 athletes in the field, anchoring in 2:02.29.

NOTES AND QUOTES
"We were proud to have Monmouth represented in two Championship relays as well as several throwers lining up in Championship sections. The Penn Relays always include some of the best in the country at a meet with over 110,000 people in attendance over three days. Penn and Lehigh were both great tune-ups as we get ready for the MAAC Championships next weekend."
- Head Coach Joe Compagni

- Senior Allison Taub started the weekend off for the Monmouth women, throwing 154'9" (47.17m) to finish third in the college discus. Sophomore Danielle Steff, one of the top freshmen in the country last year, threw 153'8" (46.85m) to finish eighth in the Championship Javelin.

- Sophomore Montel Johnson took third in the college men's hammer throw in Philadelphia, throwing 189'5" (57.74m).

- Mark Orlando was the Hawks' final competitor in a Championship final, takin eighth in the javelin at 195'10" (59.70m). In the College Division of the men's javelin, freshman Dorian Jackson placed ninth in 186'10" (56.95m).

- Monmouth also had a strong contingent at the Covert Classic at Lehigh University on Saturday, as the women's throwers led the way.

- In the shot put in Bethlehem, Taub (47'11.25"), Jordan Wildermuth, Chibuzo Amonu, Onnie Coles, Kassie Ketcho and Prisca Blamon took the top six spots. Wildermuth and Amonu finished second and third in the hammer throw at 161'10" and 161'1".

- Taub won the discus with a 151'10" effort, while freshman Alexis Uzauro took third with a 132'0" personal best toss. Kristin Krier, Kassie Ketcho and Kristen Kowalski finished 2-4-5 in the women's javelin at 132'10", 125'10" and 125'5", respectively.

- Mariah Hubbard (37'6"), Patrice Baston and Keyanna Meade finished first, third and fifth in the triple jump. Baston (18'5") and Meade also took first and third in the long jump. Meade and senior Chloe Angelini tied for 6th in the high jump.

- On the track, Christiana Rutkowski placed sixth in the 1500 in 4:51.78; Tiyanna Jenkins ran 12.96 for sixth in the 100; and Jessica Wisowaty was eighth in the 400 Hurdles.

- For the Monmouth men at Lehigh, Murphy (166'1"), Dan Gilligan and Andrew Tummino went 1-3-4 in the discus. Tummino (55'0"), Andrew Huisman and Gilligan finished 2-3-5 in the shot put. Freshman Ryan Diener was seventh at 155'10" in the hammer.

- The jumpers earned a 2-3 finish in the triple jump from freshman Mohamed Diagouraga (46'9.5") and senior Darius Howe. Romaine Rhoden was third in the long jump at 22'8.5" and Harrison Bickmore took fourth in the high jump.

- On the track, senior Kyle Mueller picked up the win in the 1500, with junior Henry Sappey finishing fifth. Diagouraga and Rhoden came back to finish first and second in the 200 at 22.34 and 22.40, and Diagouraga added a fifth-place effort in the 110 Hurdles. Robert Hill placed fourth in the 400 Hurdles, while Evan Pron finished eighth in the 800.

UP NEXT
Next weekend, the Hawks will host the MAAC Championships on Saturday and Sunday May 4-5. Events will be held from noon to 7 PM on Saturday; and 10 AM to 4 PM on Sunday. Monmouth's men and women have won five consecutive MAAC Outdoor Championships.