Bulldogs Post Two Third Place Finishes To Close Out 111th Penn Relays
PHILADELPHIA ?€“?€“ Despite the rainy conditions at Franklin Field, Mississippi State University's track and field squad wrapped up competition at the 111th Penn Relay Carnival on Saturday afternoon. The Bulldogs' 4x200- and 4x400-meter relay teams came away with third place finishes.
"We ran great relays," said MSU head coach Al Schmidt. "The second exchange in the 4x2 hindered us, but that's part of it. The 4x4 ran a great race. That's all you can ask for. Elzie's (Coleman) just a freshman, but he ran the fastest split. With the competition they were facing, they weren't thinking about the weather conditions."
Junior Steve Mullings and all-Americans senior Jamel Ashley, sophomore Arthur Davis and senior LaChristopher Lewis paced the Bulldogs to a third place finish in the 4x200-meter relay in 1:21.77.
In the 4x400-meter relay, Ashley, Davis, freshman Elzie Coleman and Lewis posted another third place finish with the third best time in school history, a regional qualifying 3:03.44. Coleman posted the fastest spilt among the Bulldogs, running the third leg in 45.3.
Freshman Austin Golding competed in the javelin at his first Penn Relays, throwing 153-10.
Both MSU squads take the week off for final exams and return to action May 12-15 at the 2005 Southeastern Conference Outdoor Track & Field Championships in Nashville, Tenn.