Stronger Field Expected for the 91st Penn Relays

People had wondered what the Penn Relays would do for an encore after a brilliant 1984 meet that saw four national collegiate and 17 meet records fall.

Well, meet officials have the answer: Plenty.

Arkansas, the defending NCAA champion both indoors and outdoors, will head the entrants in the men’s events next week when the relays convene for the 91st time.

On the women’s side, NCAA indoor runnerup Texas will make its debut at the Penn Relays where it will vie with Louisiana State, Tennessee and Villanova for a starring role.

The Razorbacks romped to victory in last month’s NCAA meet with 70 points--more than triple the total of the runnerup team. They figure to dominate the Franklin Field competition, as coach John McDonnell said he will send 26 athletes to compete individually and in relays.

“We’re still not competing at our peak but I feel we’re in pretty good shape,” McDonnell said over a telephone hookup during a news conference. “The Penn Relays are very important to us. If we weren’t in good shape, we wouldn’t be coming.”

Arkansas will defend its championship in the distance medley relay, which will be anchored once again by NCAA 1,500-meter indoor champion Paul Donovan. Also returning are a pair of 1984 individual champions, Fred Cleary in the 400-meter hurdles and Doug Consiglio in the steeplechase.

Villanova again will be strong in the distance relay events. SMU and North Carolina State will challenge in the sprints.

The appearance by the Longhorns’ women was planned by first-year coach Terry Crawford, an annual visitor to Penn during her years as Tennessee’s coach.

“It’s important for our athletes to come to the Penn Relays,” she said. “In my opinion, the Penn Relays offer all the things a coach is looking for in providing quality competition for her team.”

The women’s competition may be furious. Tennessee, in the 3,200-meter relay, and Villanova, in the distance medley, set national collegiate records here last year.

In addition, the Wildcats set an indoor world record of 8:33.60 in the 3,200-meter relay at the NCAA meet. Louisiana State was a strong third at the NCAA’s while Tennessee, hurt by graduation, remains a threat.

The Penn Relays begin on Tuesday and Wednesday with the decathlon and women’s heptathlon. Women’s events and distance races will take place on Thursday with the men’s relays and individual events set for Friday and Saturday.