Penn Relays

[TheFoyeEffect]

Maybe the single greatest sporting moment I've ever witnessed live. Emily Lipari is a mensch.

On the men's recruiting side, Malone split in the 48s range on the 4x400 for his team and Obadare split in the 47s range.


This post was edited on 4/27 9:32 PM by TheFoyeEffect

 

[whitecat]

TFE.

I just got home after three days at Penn and a five hour
ride home. On the Nova Nation I also called it one of he most
dramatic wins in any sporting event that I have ever witnessed.
What talent and heart by Emily. The place went absolutely
bonkers. I did as much as I could, but I am a young 77 years old.
We have a great deal to post about. When time permits, I will post
my chat with Ben Malone. Go Cats.

 

[Figs61]

For those of you who missed the race or want to relive the excitement here is the YouTube link of the race. See below.

2013 Penn Relays Women's 4X800

 

[whitecat]

I do not think that Obadare ran for Elmont; they were terrible.
My son and I were sitting in section SSA against the brick
wall. I saw the races, and I also saw all of the teams enter and
leave Franklin Field.

When Ben Malone was leaving after his 400, I waved my VU hat
and screamed great race yesterday and Go Nova. Fifteen minutes
later who should appear next to me but Ben who was wearing a
VU tee shirt. He came up there to speak to me a retired old
school teacher from the hills of Central NY. I have been on vusports.
com a long time, and the term "Nova kid" has often been used.
This handsome, friendly, and articulate runner and I discussed
VU and VU track. This young man has it all, and he runs 4:05.

Runners and fans from the VU section came over to shake his
hand and speak to him. He left, and I went over to try and find
Marcus and tell him this wonderful story. He wasn't there, and
people rom VU asked me if I was a relative or family friend.
I said no and told them the story. They were amazed and
pleased to hear about Ben. I think I will write Marcus a letter
and tell him.

 

[TheFoyeEffect]

Elmont was pretty damn good, they were just in a heat with the team that won at Jamaican Championships. According to the official timing site, Obadare split 47.1, the second fastest in his heat, behind only Delano Williams, the World Junior Champion in the 200m who will be training with Usain Bolt and Yohan Blake in a couple months.

 

[Togo]

Figs,
Thanks for posting. What a race.

 

[whitecat]

TFE,

Thanks for the correction and Obadare's time. I thought I was watching the
right team by the color of the uniform;someone gave me the wrong team.
I am getting my eyes checked Tuesday. I can't tell the difference between
RS and RZ for example.

 

[sebastianc]

Many thanks for the clips of the Women's DMR. Truly great race - especially if you are a VU fan. And Emily Lipari ...? Fantastic finish.

As nice as the clip is, it unfortunatley doess not capture the true mettle of the VU runners. Omits a lot. On each of the first three legs,an Oregon runner would come-up on the shoulder of the VU runner. This would be a moment of truth. And in each instance, the VU runner withstood the challenge and held-off the Oregon runner. They each reached back for a little something extra. Not taking anything away from Lipari's run, the withstanding of each of these challenges were important keys to the win. Of course, though, there was Lipari. But one had to be impressed with the composure of these runners.

The best 800 times, leading into the Penn Relays, came from Piccirillo and Margey so I was a little surprised, at the press conference, when Gina announced that Lipari would be the anchor. Her reason was impreccable. She did not want a frosh on the anchor at the Penn Relays. And was she ever right. Down the stretch it was pure will power. Congratulation to Lipari. She found that extra that only the great champions are capable of. For those who know the history of sports, think of the "Thrilla in Manila."

Great win for the VU women. And the celebration with Procaccio was a clear indication of how much these young women adore their coach. Sign of a great program. Congratulations..

Whitecat, too bad you weren't focusing on Obadare. Nice looking runner. Long strider. And TFE was right. This was like the beginning of the truly fast 4x400 heats. Note also when comparing Obadare to the other 400 runners, the Jamaican runners are very good, but, for the most part, they are also grown men - not boys. In that same heat, Zaire Clemes of Trenton Central, had a nice split on the second leg. Also this was the fastest heat of the day by a large margin - 3:10.01. Maybe VU has found something ...?

This post was edited on 4/28 10:24 PM by sebastianc

This post was edited on 4/28 10:28 PM by sebastianc

 

[paschall]

Villanova has had so many Shining Moments at the Penn Relays. Too many to mention. That anchor lap by Emily goes down as one of the Greatest. Third race in 3 days and she has the guts and courage to pull that out against a great runner. Magnificent!!!!!

 

[TheFoyeEffect]

Aside from the Mighty Burner's sub-44 split in 1968, I can't think of another that can match up to this. Perhaps the 2009 guys winning the DMR after a long drought.

 

[paschall]

TFE: I was there the day Larry James ran that amazing anchor leg. I know Rice had a very good team and, I believe, was favored to win. When James got the baton I know he was way behind. 10 yards? It was, of course an incredible sight. It was no chance, well maybe, oh no this can't be happening, OMG he did it. It was one of those did that really happen moments. Incredible! I was sitting in the lower deck at the end of the 1st turn. At the end of the race George Raveling, I guess he was still an assistant basketball coach at the time, leaped over the railing onto the track to join the celebration. I didn't see Emily Lapari's race. Did see the Video of the final part of her race. Have watched it a few times. What jumped out at me was that this excellent runner from Oregon, big, strong, long striding with a 5-6 yard lead with maybe 100 yards to go looks like a sure winner. Except, here comes this little Villanova runner, who size wise looks like a H.S. runner compared to the Oregon runner. All of a sudden Lapari looks like she has been shot out of a gun, and overtakes the Oregon runner. It's one of those OMG moments that makes sports so great, especially when it's a Villanovan involved. What a fabulous performance after anchoring tough races in the previous two days. Wish I had seen it in person, but glad to have the video to watch.

 

[TheFoyeEffect]

My voice is just coming back today, two days later.

 

[sebastianc]

Pascahall, I was there, Saturday, sitting in a section near the finish line, just a few rows up from the track. As the video shows, Lipari got the stick in first, but Roesler made up the difference immediately and then passed Lipari after about 200m Lipapri never panicked. She ran her race. Might have been a good thing that Roesler did take the lead. Note in the video, the announcer views VU as an afterthought as if it was a foregone conclusion that Oregon would win. Coming around the final turn, there was a moment of doubt and a sense that Lipari could not overtake Roesler. And then as they hit the homestretch, you could sense Lipari's detemination and you began to believe that she could make this close and even win. She never gave-up. Takes real cajones to pull this off. And she did. Very impressive. And it results in a new collegiate record.

As I said in my previous post, Lipari ran a great race, but do not forget the challenges withstood by the other three runners. That you didn't see in the video because so much of the race is not included. Each time an Oregon runner would come up on the shoulder of the VU runner, one paused and rooted for the VU runner to hold the challenger off - almost praying. And each time the VU runner prevailed.

 

[excattyguy]

One crucial part of the race was in the first lap on the top of the curve before the backstretch; Friday from Oregon put about two meters plus on Margey and looked to be pulling away. Margey came right back at her,made up the gap, and ran right with her, eventually opening up a lead for Picirrillo.

That race could easily have gone south on the first lap, but Margey is a very tough runner. As you said, each of the other three Nova women met every challenge Oregon threw at them.

In my mind, this race ranks up there with two 4 x 1500's the men ran -- the one O'Sullivan anchored in which O'Keefe ran 3:42+, the equivalent of a sub-four and the one in which Sumner, an 800m specialist, also ran 3:42+. I think he may have run the opening leg.

The 4 x 800 on Saturday impressed a lot of the running community except, of course, for the usual Letsrun Oregon faithful, who never fail to provide a less than intelligent perspective on any race Oregon does not win.

 

[whitecat]

I also saw both the James and Lipari races, and if you put
a gun to my head I couldn't decide which one I thought
was the greatest. Emily is simply a fierce competitor; in
XCountry she justs guts it out and picks off opponents
in the final stages of the race.

Who will be the male anchor of the talented group we have
now and coming in. As I recall Jumbo called Jenk and Colly
the wolves running anchor when I first really started following
our teams. I do believe that Kathy Franey was never caught
whe she was running anchor with the lead, and Belger won ten
watches and might bever have lost at Penn.

On June 8, I will drive over the mountains and then down to
MIiddletown to catch the NY State Championships. I will catch
Obadare and maybe a few other prospects.

 

[novaclassof90]

As usual, the Penn Relays doesn't fail to impress. What a great event. Still love to the hear the stories of the old days.

The Day of Renaldo Nehemiah may be the most memorable for most long time Penn Relays attendees.

 

[TheFoyeEffect]

My father has told me that story many times. Nehemiah was such an incredible athlete. It's unfortunate that he had to leave for football.

 

[paschall]

sebastianc: Point well taken. Without the performance of our 1st three runners, Emily has no chance to do what she did. Yes, I noticed the comments of the announcers, all Oregon and than oh gee whiz, here comes the Villanova runner. Only served to make the moment sweeter. Had to be special to see it in person.

 

[whitecat]

As I stated my son and I had seats that allowed
us to see outside the gates before the teams entered
Franklin Field. Gina had five runners in that area; evidentally
she made a late decision as to the make up of the team.
Fortunately she made the correct decision. Others teams also
did it.

I once read in an old Coaches Magazine that Renaldo practiced
in high school on 45" hurdles. At Penn didn't he run close to 19.5
for the 200 hundred and 44.5 for the four hundred?

 

[novaclassof90]

here you go whitecat, old article on his day. hard to believe that they used to run the shuttle hurdles on the astroturf infield back then too!

19.4 and 44.3


Nehemiah at Penn

 

[excattyguy]

Interesting thread on Letsrun.com about Irish runners now in US universities.

Does anyone know if the Illinois freshman who has run 3:46 was ever recruited by Nova?

Will Nova ever get another Irish runner (man or women) into the program?

Sorry. This should have gone into the recruiting thread.
This post was edited on 5/1 10:25 AM by excattyguy

 

[TheFoyeEffect]

Originally posted by novaclassof90:
here you go whitecat, old article on his day. hard to believe that they used to run the shuttle hurdles on the astroturf infield back then too!

19.4 and 44.3

19.4 when the world record was 19.83, run at 7,300 ft.

 

[sebastianc]

Read article. Thanks. I know Carlton Young went to VU. Didn't Rodney Wilson as well?

Now that was recruitng. Could use a little of that now.

 

[novaclassof90]

Yes, he did. Won Big East 110M HH title 3 times in early 80s.

 

[excattyguy]

Young and Wilson camein thesame recruiting class. Young was a sprinter before pulling in a 100 m race at Penn; then he switched to the 400.

I believe Wilson also won the 400 IH several times unless I am confusing him with Martin Booker. Wilson and Booker may have overlapped, or Booker may have followed Wilson. My memory is a little hazy, and I am too lazy to look it up.

 

[TheFoyeEffect]

There was also an Olympic 400m gold medalist recruiting most of those guys. Something to keep in mind.

 

[sebastianc]

TFE, you do have a point there about recruiting "sprinters" - i.e., guys who run 400 or less and hurdlers. Think even Marshall brought in some 400 guys. O'Sullivan less so.. However, I do not believe outstanding 400 people want to come to VU. Example : Najee Glass from St. Peter's (NJ) would have seemed like an ideal candidate - NJ, Catholic HS - but went to Florida probably because there were other 400 runners there.

It was nice to see a VU 4x400 at Penn Relays - 5th in IC4A. Maybe that is as good as it gets.

One can create a scenerio where VU coud have a competitive 4x400 and still be an outstanding middle distance & XC team. The probability of it happening is small - but possible. Nevertheless VU has to think seriously about recruiting an outstanding 400 man.

They lost the DMR Friday because they did not have an outstanding 400 man so their best 800 man ran 400 and the 800 leg was too weak. Something to think about..

 

[whitecat]

sebastianic,

Getting that 400 guy might be feasible, but I think it would be difficult.
In the article that Carlton Young it is mentioned about his plans for a career
in medicine. He was doing heart transplants in the Mid=West, but I think
he is working now somewhere in Alabama. There is mention of his humility.
A few years ago, he sat next to me in the Jumbo sections across from the finish
line. He would not hear of me telling our runners and fans who he was and what he has
accomplished. As he was at the top of the aisle leading out, he paused. I mentioned
to our fans who he was and his accomplishments. They gave him a nice round of applause.
On a darker side he hated running at the Carrie Dome. Since it is an easy drive for
me I loved when the BE Indoors were there.

 

[paschall]

A general thought. In every college sport recruiting is always a big topic. Specifically, in track only a few more outstanding men and women recruits and Villanova could be back to those very special years of the 50's through the 80's. Would love to see that happen, unfortunately it's not likely.
Back to the general, the same can be said for all our major sports. However, what Villanova has accomplished over the last 60 years in collegiate sports, given we're small and private, is nothing short of amazing. A record few, if any, can match. That being said, let's hope we get those 3-4 special track recruits that will keep us at a high level of success.

 

[TheFoyeEffect]

I don't know how say this in a way that will be even slightly politically correct so I'll just go for it.

Most sprinters don't generally fit into Villanova's demographic. When you add the fact that Villanova is in a cold weather area, ridiculously expensive, bound up by a scholarship limit, and that a lot of sprinters come from lower income areas, it's harder to get them.

If Villanova wants sprinters/jumpers/throwers/multi-eventers, they will have to get creative.