Forney's anchor leg and 4x400-meter relay win clinches PSAC Championships runner-up finish for Millersville

Thursday, May 9

Mansfield, PA

10:00 AM

Millersville University

PSAC Championships

Photo by: Mansfield Sports Information

Forney's anchor leg and 4x400-meter relay win clinches PSAC Championships runner-up finish for Millersville

5/11/2019 3:12:00 PM | Women's Outdoor Track and Field

Results

By: Ethan Hulsey, Director of Athletic Communications

MANSFIELD, Pa. - The 4x400-meter relay team did it again. For the second year in a row, a runner-up finish at the PSAC Outdoor Championships was on the line entering the 22nd and final event. Senior Clara Forney, who had won the 400-meter dash with a school record earlier in the day, took the final hand-off in fourth place, chased down the leaders within the first 200 meters and ran away for first place and a runner-up trophy for the Marauders. Forney's two runs landed her the PSAC Outdoor Championships Track Athlete of the Meet award, which is voted on by the coaches.

The relay run gave Millersville 109 points--the most points scored by Millersville since 1991. Millersville was within seven points of Slippery Rock with just two events remaining, but The Rock's Cecily Greggs took first place in the high jump, and the team totaled 15 points in the event to clinch the title. Shippensburg moved into a tie with the Marauders with 99 points after scoring 10 points in the 5,000-meter run. The difference between second and third came down to the 4x400-meter relay for the second year in a row.

Yoangelys Rijo-Cedeno--pressed into duty because of the injury to 4x4 regular Lenaiya Flowers--opened the relay and handed to Kay Liebl. Liebl, a member of the 2018 championship team, made up ground, and freshman Gabriela Karch kept the Marauders within reach of Bloomsburg and Shippensburg, which were running 1-2. Forney received the baton more than three seconds after Bloomsburg's anchor but rocketed to a split of 55.2--the fastest in program history. Millersville's 3:55.33 edged Bloomsburg by .31 while Shippensburg faded to fourth.

Clara Forney

"It was pure guts from the 4x400 team," said Millersville head coach Andy Young.

Forney, who won the 400 at the PSAC Indoor Championships, ran a blistering 56.17 in her individual race to win by .81. She became the first-ever Marauder to win the 400 at the PSAC Outdoor Championships a little more than two months after becoming the first to win the race at the indoor championships.

"Forney took things to another level today," said Young. "She was unstoppable and dominant in her events."

In addition's to Forney's banner day was Sunflower Greene's third-straight outdoor shot put title and third event win of the 2019 championships.

Greene, who won the hammer throw, discus and shot put over the weekend, capped her illustrious PSAC career by being named PSAC Outdoor Athlete of the Meet for the second year in a row. Including the indoor seasons, Greene is now an 11-time PSAC champ and five-time field athlete of the meet.

"Sunflower has to be considered one of the greatest athletes in PSAC history and certainly the most dominant field athlete in track and field," said Young.

With Greene leading the way, Millersville's throwers combined for 65 points. On Saturday, three Marauders placed in the top four in the shot put. Greene's 51-1 was a meet record. Aliyah Striver's 45-8 1/2 was good for third place and her first All-PSAC finish. Madison Martin, who placed third in both the hammer throw and discus, placed fourth in the shot put with a career-best toss of 41-6 1/2.

Millersville's Saturday began with a runner-up finish by the 4x100-meter relay team comprised of Brianna Doherty, Emonie Reviere, Liebl and Destinee Holloman. The group ran a season-best 47.47 for eight teams points, finishing just .22 behind Slippery Rock.

Holloman picked up four team points in the 100-meter dash, placing fifth with a time of 12.33. It was Holloman's career-best outdoor championships finish.

Emonie Reviere ran the seventh-fastest time in program history in the 200-meter dash. Her 25.33 was good for fourth place, which came on the heels of her third-place finish at the indoor championships.

The 4x800-meter relay team of Skylar Maurer, Rijo-Cedeno, Millie Davis and Jillian Miller took fifth place with a run of 9.33, which was the third-fastest time in program history and 35 seconds better than their previous season best.

"I'm so proud of our team and coaching staff and thankful for our supporters today," said Young. "There was a lot of time and effort that was put in by a big group of people to make this happen. We appreciate everyone and hope this is a great representation for Millersville Athletics and our program."

UP NEXT
Greene will head to the NCAA Outdoor Championships to compete in the hammer throw and shot put. She is currently ranked 19th in the discus. Aliyah Striver is ranked 18th nationally in the shot put, and is close to a qualifying spot. Madison Martin also posted a provisional qualifying distance in the hammer throw.