Penn Relays | Same old, same old: SEC powers pace Penn Relays field

LSU's men favored in 4x100m , but 4x800m could be the race to watch

by david bernstein, david bernstein and david bernstein | Wednesday, April 23, 2008 at 1:00 am

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Trindon Holliday has always had his doubters.

The football coaches at Duke and Louisana-Lafayette thought the 5-foot-6 running back was too small to play big-time college ball. His mother prevented him from getting on the gridiron until seventh grade for fear of her son's well-being. And it took some prodding to convince Lousiana State football coach Les Miles to allow him on the team.

But Holliday has never been one to succumb to doubt - he is now a standout for LSU's football and track teams.

Holliday and the Tigers will once again bring one of the more formidable relay squads to the Penn Relays this weekend. LSU's 4x100 team - led by Holliday and Richard Thompson - brought home the title at the Texas Relays earlier this month.

And while they might be the odds-on favorites to take the gold this weekend, the Tigers may have to survive a clash with an old friend.

Texas A&M coach Pat Henry won 35 championship races at the Penn Relays in his 16 years as LSU head coach, but now his Aggies might finally be in line for some hardware of their own.

Henry left Baton Rouge for College Station in 2004, and this year his squad was just 0.16 seconds behind the Tigers in the Texas Relays final. At Penn, his team presents one of the biggest upset threats.

Yet the 4x100m is hardly the only intriguing storyline this weekend. According to Penn track coach Charlie Powell, the 4x800m might fly under the radar, but it will be a must-see.

"It could be one of the great races of the Penn Relays," he said. "There are half a dozen teams that think that they can win the 4x8 . It's gonna be snuggly."

The front-runner might be Texas, who despite its Texas Relay victory has never won gold in Philadelphia. The Longhorns' biggest threat lies in LSU, who placed fourth last year.

Columbia, which took the Relays by surprise last year by winning the 4x800m, has three of its four runners back this year and again gives the event some mystique.

Michigan could figure to be a team to beat on the women's side for the distance relays, where the Wolverines made a splash last year in the 4x800m and 4x1500m. And despite the loss of runners Anna Willard and Katie Erdman, Michigan is expected to place well in the Distance Medley Relay and the 4x1500m.

But Powell has his eye on one squad, at least for the sprint events.

"South Carolina is trying to come in here and make a statement," he said. "They're gonna be a very top contender."

The Lady Gamecocks finished just ninth in the Southeast Conference Indoor Championship in March, but they are the reigning champs in the 4x400m.

While their top two runners from 2007 - Shalonda Solomon and Natasha Hastings - have left to turn pro, Krystal Cantey and Brandi Cross will return and compete in the same event for South Carolina.

Predicting the results is only half the fun of the Penn Relays, though. As Powell will tell you, what makes the Relays special is watching the elite of the elite compete on one track.

"This is where the best come to really let it all hang out," he said.

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