Lady Vols set American record in completing Penn Relays triple

The Tennessee Lady Vols set an American record in the 3,200-meter relay on Saturday to complete a rare triple in the Penn Relays at Franklin Field in Philadelphia.

Kimarrra McDonald, Chanelle Price, Sarah Bowman and Phoebe Wright finished in 8 minutes, 17.91 seconds to break the mark of 8:18.78 set by Michigan at the 2007 Penn Relays.

An American record in the event set in 1979 (8:19.9) included Joetta Clark, the sister of Lady Vols coach J.J Clark.

The splits were 2:09.14 by McDonald, Price at 2:02.45, Bowman in 2:03.70 and Wright in 2:02.62.

Tennessee is just the third program and sixth women’s team to take the distance medley and the 6,000- and 3,200 events in the 115-year history of the meet. North Carolina’s women were the last to do it, in 2003.

“Our focus wasn’t on the record,” said Bowman, who anchored the two previous wins and was named Women’s Outstanding Relay Athlete Award. “It was again about competing. If you get too caught up in times it messes you up. We we’re like just go out there and compete hard.”

A crowd of nearly 48,000 cheered Wright to the finish line in a time that also set a new school record.

“The announcer was trying to help the crowd and make them aware that we were on record pace,” said Clark. “I felt that the crowd was helping Phoebe, but she was already digging in and really did a great job.”

The Lady Vols won three relays at the Penn Relays for the third time, joining the 1984 and 2004 squads.

Meanhile, UT sophomore Joseph Berry cleared a height of 17 feet, 4.5 inches to win the men’s championship section of the pole vault.

Michael Seaman finished eighth to give the Vols their third regional qualifier in the pole vault by clearing 16-6.75.