BETHLEHEM, Pa. - The University of Pennsylvania men's and women's track and field programs competed for the first time in 2017 at the Lehigh Angry Birds Challenge. The men claimed first place with a score of 171, while the women tallied a mark of 160, good for second. The Quakers tested themselves against the host Mountain Hawks, Monmouth, and Saint Joseph's.

Three Quakers on the women's side either matched or improved upon their current standings in the Penn record books, including Molly Minnig (pole vault), Monica Benz (pole vault), and freshman Maura Kimmel, who set the new program record in the shot put with a toss of 14.29 meters. 

Highlighted by the three record-setting performances, the women totaled 17 podium performances, including a clean sweep in the pole vault, as Zoe Early joined Minnig and Benz in the top three. Nia Akins and Katie DeVore shared first place in the 1-mile run with times of 5:07.58. Freshman Breanne Bygrave continued the strong start to her collegiate career, claiming first in the 60 meter hurdles at 8.79, followed by Meghan Barnes in third. Ashley Montgomery finished second in the 800 meter at 2:14.99, while Cecil Ene matched that performance in the 200 meter with a time of 25.83. Taylor McCorkle took home the gold in the 60-meter dash with a time of 7.55, followed by Barbara Biney in second. The team of Akins, Gina Alm, DeVore and Maddie Villalba won the 4x400 relay with a time of 3:58.76. In field events, Elena Brown-Soler won the long jump with a distance of 5.70 meters, while Rachel Wilson captured first in the weight throw with a toss of 17.84 meters. 

On the men's side, Penn won the challenge behind 19 podium finishes. The Red and Blue dominated the 1-mile run, featuring the top-four performers led by Chris Hatler with a time of 4:12.75. Xavier Jackson tallied a second-place time in the 60 meter hurdles, while Peter Whiteneck took home second in both the 200 meter (23.50) and the 60 meter (7.08). Ross Wilson captured first in the 3000 meter run, finishing with a time of 8:29.18. Like their female counterparts, the men also won the 4x400 relay as the foursome of Anthony Okolo, Calvary Rogers, Evan Lee and Titus Jeffries clocked in with a time of 3:26.03. In field events, Lance Yassay took first in the high jump with a leap of 1.99 meters. Sean Clarke and Nathan Fisher finished first and second respectively in the pole vault, as Clarke led the way with a distance of 4.86 meters. Jordan Palmer won the triple jump with a mark of 14.16 meters. 

Penn returns to action next weekend at the Ocean Breeze Complex in Staten Island, N.Y., competing in the Penn 8-Team Select beginning on Saturday.