Tulane University
Penn Relays
Outdoor Track & Field's Melius Breaks 3,000m Steeplechase Record at Penn Relays
Apr 27, 2017 | Men's Track and Field, Women's Track and Field, Track & Field
PHILADELPHIA – Three Tulane competitors posted career bests Thursday night, one being a school record, as the Green Wave's top distance runners completed their weekend at the prestigious Penn Relays at Franklin Field in Philadelphia.
Mckenzie Melius' time in the 3,000 meter steeplechase was the seventh record broken by a Tulane student-athlete in the 2017 outdoor track & field season, and the sophomore now holds top times in both the 2,000m steeplechase and 3,000m steeplechase.
HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE PENN RELAYS
Melius opened up Tulane's second-to-last weekend of regular season competition on a high note, clocking a time of 10:41.08 in the women's 3,000m steeplechase to break a school record by over eight seconds. The sophomore finished seventh in her section and 22nd overall on a time that now puts her within the top ten of the conference standings.
In the men's 5,000m, sophomore Emmanuel Rotich came away with a near-personal best of his own, posting a season-best time of 14:04.80 for seventh in the race and Tulane's top time of the 2017 season.
The Green Wave closed out their stay at the Penn Relays in the women's 10,000m, where Lauren Bartels set a career best on her time of 35:27.49, now ranking her fourth in the American Athletic Conference standings. Bartels came away with Tulane's second top-ten finish of the night, placing seventh behind some of the top distance runners in the nation.
UP NEXT
The remainder of the Tulane squad will compete Friday and Saturday at the Longhorn Invitational in Austin, Texas.
Fans can keep up with the latest in Tulane track & field action by following the team on Twitter, Facebook or Instagram.
Tulane Results from the Penn Relays
Women's 10,000m
7. Lauren Bartels, 35:27.49*
-- Emma Newton, DNF
Women's 3,000m Steeplechase
22. Mckenzie Melius, 10:41.08#*
-- Mikayla Sonneborn, DNF
Men's 5,000m
7. Emmanuel Rotich, 14:04.80*
Players Mentioned
