Guest Shatters Men’s 3,000-meter Steeplechase Program Record in Penn Relays Opener

PHILADELPHIA, Pa. – The App State men’s and women’s track & field team opened competition at the Penn Relays on Thursday with a new program record and four personal bests on the evening.
 
In the men’s 3,000-meter steeplechase, redshirt senior Calbert Guest stopped the clock at 8:42.01 for a personal best and new school record. Guest surpassed the previous record of 8:51.28, which was set in 2022 by Ryan Brown. In Thursday’s race, Guest placed sixth overall and became the first App State men’s distance athlete to qualify for the USATF Elite Championships.

“Calbert put himself in a position to race and forget about the clock,” said men’s distance coach Brad Herbster. “He competed well tonight and it is a nice accomplishment getting the school record, establishing a regional mark, and obtaining the USA Championship minimum mark. There are big things ahead as we move into the championship season.”

 

Junior Ethan Lipham recorded a personal best of 3:46.82 to win his heat and finish 10th overall in the men’s 1,500 meters. He rose to fourth in the App State all-time list in the event.

 

Senior Emma Russum clocked a personal best of her own with a time of 16:30.30 in the women’s 5,000 meters. She placed 23rd overall and moved to fourth in the program all-time list.

 

With a personal best of 14:13.82, freshman Thomas Wlazlowski rounded out the night, placing 33rd in the men’s 5,000 meters. He remains third in the program top-10 in the event.

 

App State will resume competition at the Penn Relays at noon on Friday with the men’s long jump. The Mountaineers’ first event on the track will be the women’s distance medley relay (DMR) at 12:05 p.m.

 

App State at the Penn Relays Schedule

Friday, April 25

12 p.m. College Men’s Long Jump (College)

12:05 p.m. College Women’s Distance Medley Relay (College)

12:20 p.m. College Men’s Distance Medley Relay (College)

12:30 p.m. College Women’s Pole Vault (College)

3:10 p.m. College Women’s 100 meters (Prelims)

3:30 p.m. College Men’s 100 meters (Prelims)

4 p.m. College Men’s Pole Vault (College)

4 p.m. College Men’s Triple Jump (College)

4 p.m. College Women’s Triple Jump (College)

6:10 p.m. College Women’s Sprint Medley (Championship of America)

 

Saturday, April 26 

11:30 a.m. College Men’s Pole Vault (Championship)

2:30 p.m. College Women’s Pole Vault (Championship)

**3:40 p.m. College Women’s 100 meters (Championship)

**3:45 p.m. College Men’s 100 meters (Championship)

5 p.m. College Women’s 4×800-meter Relay (College)

5:10 p.m. College Men’s 4×800-meter Relay (College)