Canes Track Starts Strong at Penn Relays

PHILADELPHIA – The University of Miami track and field program kicked off its appearance at the 2013 Penn Relays Thursday with a Top-3 finish.

Lea Johnson finished third in the women’s collegiate hammer throw with a mark of 179’.

“Lea continued to build on a great outdoor season today,” Miami throws coach Cory Young said. “Coming to Penn Relays and putting together an extremely solid performance on short rest after a tremendous ACC Championship. We had a very short week of training and she competed at a high level to play third today.”

Johnson earned her sixth consecutive Top 5 finish in women’s hammer. Johnson placed third at the ACC Outdoor Championships, third at the Hurricane Alumni Invitational, fourth at Florida Relays, second at the Miami Invitational and third at the Hurricane Invitational.

Fellow throwers Isaiah Simmons and Amber Monroe will make their 2013 Penn Relays debut Friday. Simmons will throw shot put and discus while Monroe will throw discus.

Samantha Williams will compete in the women’s triple jump Friday morning, while Innocent Jacob, Timothy Richardson and John-Patrick Friday will battle in the men’s long jump in the afternoon.

Miami will also have entries in the men’s 4x100m and 4x200m relays, as well as the women’s sprint medley championship Friday evening.

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