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CINCINNATI - The first day of action at the 123rd Penn Relays came to a close at Franklin Field in Philadelphia, Pa., Thursday night with two of the four University of Cincinnati competitors not only recording personal-best marks, but also placing their names among the all-time best in UC history. Ashley Williams was the first to do so on the day as she moved up to third in the shot put with an over one-foot improvement while Dan Huben closed the night with the sixth-fastest 3,000m steeplechase time in program history.
// WILLIAMS KEEPS IMPROVING
Four the fourth time in her last five competitions, Williams posted a season-best in the shot put and, for the third time, moved up the program's all-time Top 10 ledger as the junior transfer launched the ball to 15.78m (51-09.25) on her sixth and final attempt to finish fifth overall and post another big personal best. This time, her improvement came to the tune of 1' 3.75" as he moved out of a tie for fourth in UC history and took third by herself while becoming just the fourth Bearcat women to hold a mark of 51' or better.
// HUBEN CLEARS BARRIERS
Huben was the lone Bearcat man to compete on the day and made the most of his appearance as he placed eighth overall in the 3,000m steeplechase with a personal-best time of 9:00.61. That time, which now ranks him sixth all-time in program history, lowered his PR by nearly 10 seconds as he his previous best was 9:10.22, while also lowering his previous 2017 season best by nearly 29 seconds (9:29.15). With the time, Huben not only ranks in the Top 10 of the UC record book, but also is just the third man to add his name to the list since 2011 with Tyler Ross (2015) running 9:04.33 (now eighth) and David Barry (2011) running 9:06.74 (now 10th).
// TWO FOURS FOR ECHIKUNWOKE
Annette Echikunwoke was one of two Bearcats that competed in a pair of events on the first day with the junior finishing fourth in the championship division of both events she entered. First, she was fourth in the shot put with a toss of 15.81m (51-10.50), just 1.25" ahead of Williams' strong performance, to give the Bearcats two placers in the Top 5. Later in the day, she finished fourth once again, this time in the hammer throw, with a best of 60.71m (199-02).
// TWO FOR GRAY
Alexis Gray also competed in a pair of events on the day. She opened in the discus and placed 26th overall with a best of 39.17m (128-06). She came back later to compete in the shot put and finished 48th with a mark of 11.96m (39-03.00).
// IN THE BLOCKS
Two events will be on the slate for the Bearcats tomorrow as several men will compete in the hammer throw (4:30 p.m.) at the Lyles/Wood Invitational in Louisville, Ky., while Macklin Tudor is set for the championship division of the men's shot put at the Penn Relays (noon).
123rd Penn Relays - Day 1 (4/27/17)
Women's Results
Shot Put - Championship
4. Annette Echikunwoke - 15.81m (51-10.50)
5. Ashley Williams - 15.78m (51-09.25) - PR & UC #3
Shot Put - College
48. Alexis Gray - 11.96m (39-03.00)
Discus - College
26. Alexis Gray - 39.17m (128-06)
Hammer - Championship
4. Annette Echikunwoke - 60.71m (199-02)
Men's Results
3,000m Steeplechase
8. Dan Huben - 9:00.61 - PR & UC #6