PHILADELPHIA, Pa. – The Navy track and field team won an event at the prestigious Penn Relays for the first time in 73 years as the Midshipmen won the shuttle hurdle relay at Franklin Field in Philadelphia, Pa. The quartet of Kordell Williams (Upper Marlboro, Md.), Cameron Hurd (Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif.), Hunter Wargo (West Branch, Iowa), and Clayton Thompson (Corpus Christi, Texas) combined for a collective time of 56.96 to win the event by just over a half a second (0.53).
 
In addition to winning the shuttle hurdle relay, the men's 4x400m relay team broke the school record, which was set 40 years ago. The team of Eric Hughey (Lee's Summit, Mo.), Simon Petsch (Billings, Mont.), Hurd, and John Finnegan (Spring, Texas) clocked an IC4A time of 3:08.78 to best the previous record of 3:08.84, which was set in 1979.
 
"Today was a good day for us," Director of Navy Track and Field Jamie Cook stated after the meet. "The shuttle hurdles and 4x400m relay were awesome. I knew it would definitely be exciting and I thought we could win if we ran a good race. Clayton Thompson ran an awesome last leg and was able to pass a guy at the end. We beat South Carolina, who set the record in the event a few years ago, as well as a Jamaican team."
 
"The 4x4 team went out and ran hard. They broke the school record, which was set 39 years ago. I couldn't be happier."
 
On the day, Navy tallied seven ECAC / IC4A qualifying marks. The men's team posted six marks, while the women added one.
 
Aside from his performance in the shuttle hurdle, Thompson also clocked an IC4A time of 14.26 in the 110m hurdles.
 
The 4x100m relay team of Aaron Watson (Union City, Mich.), Austin Pierce (Dahlonega, Ga.), Evan Lexo (Groton, Mass.) and Demetrius Lanier (Palm Coast, Fla.) combined for a qualifying time of 41.21.
 
Benjamin Stewart (Charlestown, R.I.) posted a distance of 7.05m (23-01.75) in the long jump to finish as the top Mid in the event. Mike Milcarek (Woodinville, Wash.) and John Barber (Sugar Land, Texas) also added IC4A qualifying throws in the shot put. Milcarek notched a distance of 16.20m (53-01.75), while Barber registered a throw of 16.00m (52-05.75).
 
On the women's side, the 4x100m relay team of Amanda Henson (West Barnstable, Mass.), Chelsey Edwards (Schertz, Texas), Regine Tugade (Dededo, Guam), and Chloe Alfieri (Harvard, Mass.) combined for an ECAC qualifying time of 46.40. The time was the sixth fastest in Navy history.
 
Navy concludes action in the 125th running of the Penn Relays on Saturday, April 27. For all Penn Relay information, please visit PennRelays.com.
 
Navy Top Finishers at the Penn Relays (ECAC / IC4A Qualifiers)
Women 4x100 M Relay
Amanda Henson, Chelsey Edwards, Regine Tugade, Chloe Alfieri – 46.40
 
Men 110 M Hurdles
Clayton Thompson – 14.26
 
Men 4x100 M Relay
Aaron Watson, Austin Pierce, Evan Lexo, Demetrius Lanier – 41.21
 
Men 4x400 M Relay
Eric Hugey, Simon Petsch, Cameron Hurd, John Finnegan – 3:08.78
 
Men Long Jump
Benjamin Stewart – 7.05m (23-01.75)
 
Men Shot Put
Mike Milcarek – 16.20m (53-01.75)
John Barber – 16.00m (52-05.75)
 
Men Shuttle Hurdle (First Navy win at the Penn Relays in 73 years)
Kordell Williams, Cameron Hurd, Hunter Wargo, Clayton Thompson – 56.96