April 23, 2013
PHILADELPHIA, Pa.: April 23, 2013 - Junior Brittney Howell (Wyncote, Pa.) enjoyed a stellar start to the 2013 edition of the prestigious Penn Relays, leading the women's heptathlon through four events, Tuesday at Franklin Field. Howell totaled 3197 points on day one, leading the rest of the nine-woman field by over 200 points. The junior proved to be the class of the field on Tuesday, posting the best effort in the field in three of four events - coming up with a second-place finish in the fourth discipline.
The junior kicked off the day running 14.53 into a headwind in the 100-meter hurdles, turning in the top performance of the day, and picking up 905 points for the effort. Howell kept the momentum up in the high jump, clearing a season-best 5-6 (1.68), to earn an additional 830 points, and best the competition by an inch.
Howell then turned in a toss of 36-03 (11.05) in the shot put - her best performance of 2013 - to gain another 598 points. The junior ended the day on a high note, finishing with a season-best 25.25 in the 200, tacking on 864 points, thanks to a second-place finish in the event.
Howell is chasing her own personal-best total of 5093 points - set at the Big Ten Outdoor Championships a year ago. The junior is just off PR pace, having totaled 3308 points on day one during her career-best effort.
Action at Penn continues tomorrow morning, beginning with the long jump at 10:30 a.m. The official start the "Relays Carnival" portion of the program - as well as start of the action for the rest of the Nittany Lion contingent - is set for Thursday, at 10:00 a.m.