April 21, 2004

PHILADELPHIA-Senior distance runner Mate Nemeth returns to the Penn Relays where last year he highlighted the 2003 season by winning the 3000m Steeplechase with a time of 8:49.92. Nemeth looks to defend his title in 2004.

History seems to have repeated itself in Memphis Track & Field. Nemeth was the first Memphis athlete to win an event at the Penn Relays since Ed Hammonds won the 100m dash in 1973. Ironically, that year Hammonds and teammate Lynn Fox who placed second in the 100m were the subjects of a story in the Philadelphia Inquirer. Nemeth will be the focus of a piece written by Ira Joseph in the Philadelphia Inquirer on April 22 leading into the meet. Nemeth will compete in the 3000m steeplechase at 7:45 p.m. Thursday night.

Several other Tigers have made the trip to Philadelphia this week. Ivan Williams, Michael Woods, Willie Green and Austin Hunter will compete in the 4x100m Relay. Larry Harris and Preston Taylor will compete in the hurdles; Adam Martin will compete in the shot put; Michael Mentz, Abraham Shaposhnik, Istvan Kerekjarto and Szilard Toth will compete in distance events.

The 110th running of the Penn Relays will begin Thursday and run through Saturday at Franklin Field on the University of Pennsylvania campus. This year's meet has over 22,000 competitors and the event expects to attract over 100,000 spectators for the third consecutive year. Results of memphis performances will be available on www.gotigersgo.com.

Myklebust to compete at Drake Relays

DES MOINES, Iowa-If there is a meet that competes with the Penn Relays in stature, perhaps it's the Drake Relays. Memphis will only send one competitor to the Drake Relays, but the Tigers will certainly be represented well by 2003 C-USA Outdoor Track Athlete of the Year, Gaute Myklebust. Myklebust who is qualified for the NCAA Regional in both the shot put and discus will compete in each event at the meet. Myklebust will test his skill against some of the top throwers in the country. The discus competition will be Friday and the shot put will commence on Saturday.