ESU Penn Relays Results

PHILADELPHIA – Senior Steve Morgan, sophomore Mike Matrisciano, sophomore Akeim Thomas and junior Christian Castro highlighted a memorable 123rd annual Penn Relays for East Stroudsburg University with a first place finish in the Shuttle Hurdles Championship of America Invitational on Friday afternoon.

The Warrior foursome posted a school-record time of 58.63 to beat out Division I schools South Carolina, Navy and Manhattan.

"For a Division II team to win a Championships of America event is simply remarkable," coach Chris Merli said. "This was a once in a lifetime opportunity for us, and the guys were able to get it done. Over the last 40 or 50 years, very few D-II schools have earned one of these titles."

Other shuttle hurdles winners in the past 10 years include teams from South Carolina, Clemson, Texas Tech and Florida. Castro ran the anchor leg, holding off a late surge from Navy to beat out the Mids by 0.34. ESU and Abilene Christian (2007 men's shuttle hurdles) are the only two DII schools to win a Championship of America event in the past 22 years.

That race was one of many strong efforts for the Warriors at the historic meet, with other highlights including a season-best performance from Morgan in the 110-meter hurdles and a new school record in the women's distance medley relay.

Morgan placed 13th out of 20 runners in the hurdles, lowering his NCAA DII provisional time down to 14.36. That ranks him 16th among DII runners this spring, and the time is only four-hundredths off his own school record set in 2015. Morgan placed third in his heat, one spot away from qualifying for Saturday's final. All seven runners below him in the final rankings were from DI schools.

Junior Kaylyn West, senior Erin Brady, senior Lauren Toth and junior Samantha Young took nearly a minute off the old ESU record of 13:10.30 in the women's DMR, completing Thursday's race in 12:10.99. The old school mark had stood since the 2000 outdoor season.

Both Warrior 4x200m relay teams entered the program record books as well. Sophomore Marissa Flim, freshman Tiana Webster, freshman Morgan Dey and sophomore Aspen Gaita finished the women's race in 1:41.32. That mark is No. 2 all-time, less than a second off the school record set in 2013.

On the men's side, junior Montel Johnson-Troupe, senior Robert Garvey, Castro and sophomore Pat Monahan are now ranked No. 4 all-time after completing their relay in 1:27.60.

Both 4x400m relays also registered new season-bests. Freshman Andrew Schumacher, Garvey, freshman Nick Lawrence and Thomas finished in 3:18.29, while freshman Sarah Klag, Gaita, sophomore Shante Dorin and Matthews posted a time of 3:58.78.

Gaita and Matthews competed individually in the high jump on Thursday, with the duo registering matching clearances of 5-2 1/2. That marked a new season-best for Gaita, qualifying her for next week's PSAC championships at Bloomsburg.

The ESU men also took part in the DMR, with freshman Matt Lloyd, freshman Mike Sheptuk, sophomore Khai Samuels and senior Alec Lederer recording a time of 10:25.61.

The remainder of the Warrior track & field squad will travel to Bethlehem for the Lehigh Games on Saturday. That meet will be the team's final tune-up before PSACs.