By: by Emily Diekelmann
Event Schedule
PHILADELPHIA- Continuing competition after the Atlantic Sun Outdoor Conference Championship, three Kennesaw State track and field athletes head to Pennsylvania for the Penn Relays, April 28-30. Mackenzie Howe, Jaakko Nieminen and Nabil Hamid will be representing the Owls at one of the toughest contests hosted around the country.
Outside of the conference meets that athletes participate in, Penn Relays ranks as the premier track meet with a high level of competition. In 2010, Usain Bolt, the world’s fastest man, competed at Penn Relays, running the 100 meter dash in 9.79 seconds. The competition has been around since 1895 when it was first run in conjunction with the University’s Spring Handicap Track and Field Games.
For distance coach Stan Sims, this meet is a chance for the trio to get some excellent experience against some of the best track athletes in the country.
“Mackenzie Howe will run the 5K instead of the 10k at Penn Relays,” Sims said. “We feel we have the qualifying time for region in the 10K so this meet is an opportunity to run against national class competition without the stress of having to compete in another grueling 10K event. Jaakko and Nabil are looking for a 10K region qualifying time. The emphasis this week has been to stay sharp but also recover from two stressful races at conference the past week.”
Having already had their conference championship, the three athletes get a chance to improve on their times from conference. Howe reclaimed her spot at the top with two first place finishes in the 5,000 and 10,000 meter races at the A-Sun Championships. Earlier this season, she competed at the Stanford Invitational, where she finished eighth among elite schools and nabbed herself the 10k school record.
Teammate Hamid had his own success this season especially at the A-Sun championships. He beat out Nieminen for the top spot in the 10,000 meter race with a time of 31:10.54 and an All-Conference award. Racing for the first time in steeplechase, Hamid was able to grab another All-Conference nod, finishing in second place.
The season has been a whirlwind for junior Nieminen, having claimed the school records in five events during indoor and outdoor season. Nieminen added two All-Conference awards to his name at the A-Sun Championships in the 5,000 and 10,000 meters races with a first and second place finish, respectively.
“We have been very excited of the opportunity to participate in the oldest and most legendary race in the nation,” Nieminen said. “To me, it's definitely going to be one of the highlights of my long running career, so far.”
Howe is the first to compete on Thursday night with the 5,000 meters at 8:40 p.m. and Hamid and Nieminen in the 10,000 meters at 10:55 p.m.
