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AU Men's Distance Medley Relay Sets New School Record at Penn Relays
Eagles place seventh in the Championship of America

April 25, 2003

Sean O'Brien anchored the distance medley relay team to a school record at the Penn Relays.

PHILADELPHIA, Pa. — The American University men's distance medley relay (DMR) squad of Sean Duffy, Andy Ellerhorst, Phil Gaeta and Sean O'Brien ran a school record en route to finishing seventh at the Penn Relays in 9:38.78. The team ran 10 seconds faster than the prior record set last year at the Penn Relays.

Duffy ran the leadoff leg of 1200-meters for the Eagles. He started towards the back of the pack over the first lap of 56 seconds. Duffy held his position as the pack ran 1:54 for the first 800m. On his final lap, Duffy made a move over the final 200m to hand the baton off to Ellerhorst in ninth place after running 2:55.03.

Ellerhorst took the baton and ran a solid 400m leg for AU. The senior closed the gap on a number of runners in front of him over the final 200m, running 48 seconds as AU remained in ninth.

Gaeta was caught by himself for most of his 800m leg, but still gained ground on the Georgia Tech team ahead of the Eagles. Gaeta ran 1:51 for his 800m, handing off to O'Brien in ninth place.

The AU senior took the baton, going out in 61 seconds for his first lap. The runners from Princeton and Brown passed O'Brien, but he let them do the work as the came through 800m in 2:05. The pace in the front pack slowed greatly and O'Brien was in the race with the leaders with 600m remaining as the pace began to drop. O'Brien moved the team into eighth place with a 60 second third lap and caught the Navy runner in the final straightaway as AU finished seventh. O'Brien ran 4:03.89 for his mile leg as the team ran 9:38.78.

Tomorrow, the men's 4xMile Relay concludes AU's competition at the Penn Relays in an event beginning at 12:30 p.m.

Event 147, Friday, 3:30 pm
CM Distance Medley Relay Championship of America

1 9:32.65 Michigan
2 9:32.87 Arkansas
3 9:33.44 Villanova
4 9:35.53 Kentucky
5 9:36.33 Florida
6 9:37.72 Georgetown
7 9:38.78 American
8 9:39.37 Navy
9 9:41.14 Georgia Tech
10 9:42.67 Princeton
11 9:43.56 Brown
12 9:46.71 Penn State
13 9:50.49 Abilene Christian
14 9:53.50 Kent State