The Penn Relays drew 46,000 spectators, national television coverage, Olympic-caliber athletes and teams from across America.
Racing against the nation's best, selected Dartmouth athletes posted five top-five results, in three individual events and two relays.
Maribel Sanchez '96 led the women's team, finishing fifth in the 3,000 meters with a time of9:26.77, a personal best. Sanchez said it was a chance to run "hard against people I will see at nationals. I am getting used to running against people of this caliber."
Sanchez missed finishing fourth by .04 seconds, as she was passed just before the finish. "I heard the crowd, but I didn't realize [I was about to be passed]," she said.
In the men's 3,000 meter steeplechase, Sam Wilbur '94 placed third with a time of 8:49.04. Teammate Aaron Bouplon '95 finished in 17th place, 16 seconds behind.
Chris Langan '96 finished fifth in the 5,000 meters in a time of 14:30.91. Teammate Jack Dwyer '96 finished ninth, six seconds behind.
Adam Nelson '97 finished third in the shot put, throwing 59'111/4",provisional qualifying standard for the NCAAs.
Dartmouth also performed well in the relays, the staple events at the meet.Co-Captain Ted FitzPatrick '95 likened the atmosphere to "running at Fenway Park."
The women's 4 x 1500 team of Kristin Manwaring '96, Kristin Cobb '95, Jenna Rogers '98 and Sanchez finished fifth in 18.06. Cobb said the foursome was "happy with the race." Sanchez said Coach Ellen O'Neil had hoped the team would finish in the top six.
The men's 4 x 1500 team finishedninth. FitzPatrick said the race, "was very good, [it was ] the first time we had run the event in 10 years."
Aaron Bouplon '95 opened the relay for Dartmouth. FitzPatrick said Bouplon, "had a good race ... [and] put us in striking distance in the middle of the pack" with his personal best in the 1,500 meters.
Harwick said the meet was an, outstanding opportunity for Dartmouth.
Sunday brought the team back to Hanoverfor the Dartmouth Invitational. Kristin Pierce '96 characterized the meet as "low key." The competition was important for athletes who did not compete at Penn as the teams move on to the championship meets in the next few weekends.
Harwick said it is "very important to have another opportunity to compete as a tune up for Heps" next weekend.
Amy Winchester '96 won three events includinga discus personal best of 151'8". Winchester also took first in the shot put and the javelin.
Emily Hodgson '98 won the 1,500 meters in a personal best of 4:37.17.
For the men, Ryan Donovan '96 ran his best race of the season, wining the 1,500 in 3:57.67.
Pole vaulter Scott Shimooka '95 cleared 16 feet, and Steve Clark '97 won the high jump, clearing 6'8".
