Penn Relays: Millstone's Murphy, Rutgers' Timberg look Olympian as records fall

PHILADELPHIA – To break a meet record at the Penn Relays is a mark of greatness in track & field. The names of Olympians line the record book.

That’s the company Liam Murphy and Chloe Timberg joined Saturday.

Murphy, who hails from Millstone, anchored Villanova to an NCAA record in the 4xmile and broke the Penn Relays record for the fastest mile split.

Timberg, a Rutgers junior, broke the meet record in the women’s pole vault.

Less than two months before the Olympic Trials, the pair made quite a statement at Franklin Field.

Murphy stole the show

Murphy appeared on the cover of the Penn Relays program after anchoring Villanova to a victory in last year’s meet, and he doubled that feat this time around. On Friday, the former Allentown High School star anchored the Wildcats’ winning distance medley with a 3:59 split for 1600 meters, employing a big kick down the stretch to reach the tape first. Saturday was even more impressive – a 3:54 anchor mile as Villanova became the first collegiate 4xmile ever to break 16 minutes. Their 15:51 clocking was the second-best ever at any level, just two seconds off the world record set in 1985.

“That’s what everyone wants to see, the sub-16, and it’s cool to have it happen here,” Murphy said.

His thunderous finishing kick, unleashed coming off the final turn, put Villanova over the top. How hot was this race? He and Georgetown anchor Abel Teffra became the first collegians to post sub-3:55 mile splits at the Penn Relays. The previous split record, set by Arkansas legend Seneca Lassiter, had stood since 1999.

“I like closing at the end of the race,” Murphy said. “The longer the race goes on, the closer it gets to the finish, I feel more comfortable, so it’s just a matter of staying patient.”

His collegiate career has been a monument to patience. After some struggles, Murphy has found another gear. He finished fourth in the 3000 meters at last month’s NCAA indoor championships and is poised to contend for some big prizes ahead.

“These are some of the best teams coming out here and the guys that anchor, they’re some of the best milers in the country,” he said. “So being able to compete with them sets me up with a good mindset going into the championship season and knowing where I stand.”

Rare air for Timberg

The women’s pole vault has been contested at the Penn Relays since 1998, and no competitor has come close to what Timberg accomplished Saturday. Her winning height of 15-1 shattered the previous meet record – 14-7.25 set by Arkansas’ Tina Sutej in 2011.

That’s a personal best for Timberg, who joins an elite club of 15-footers after being stuck on 14-11.

“I’ve been working for it for so long,” she said. “It can be discouraging to show up meet after meet and set it to that 15-foot mark. You have three misses and you’re always walking away with those three misses. The energy of the stadium gave me confidence to hit those bigger marks.”

How big was this? She qualified for the Olympic Trials, which take place June 21-30 in Eugene, Ore. In the last Olympic trials, the third-place mark was 15-1. The NCAA record, achieved in the perfect conditions of altitude, is 15-7. So Timberg is knocking on the door of the sport’s pinnacle.

The 25,000 fans at Franklin Field understood on Saturday, erupting as Timberg cleared the bar at 15-1. For a kid from Doylestown, Pa., the scene was extra special.

“It’s amazing,” she said.

Rutgers’ Robinson wins long jump

In the college track & field world, Rutgers is becoming Long Jump U, and Sincere Robinson is the latest honors student. The sophomore from Newark won the long jump at the Penn Relays Saturday, leaping 25 feet, 4 inches into a headwind.

“I’m just continuing the legacy of Rutgers – we’re used to winning,” he said, pointing to the block ‘R’ on his jacket. “That’s what the R stands for – represent.”

The Scarlet Knights have won this event three times in recent years. A’Nan Bridgett placed first in 2022, with Robinson taking second. Corey Crawford, currently the program’s jumps coach, won it in 2014.

“He’s the best coach,” Robinson said of Crawford. “He took a chance on me. He’s the reason I’m here, doing what I do, he knows how to get us to take flight.”

With the temperature in the 50s and winds swirling, the conditions for jumping were lousy. Robinson didn’t much mind. He sees it as toughening him up for the big goals that lie ahead – an NCAA title (he placed sixth indoors), a spot in the U.S. Olympic Trials in June and, ideally, a trip to Paris for the 2024 Olympics.

“If you can compete here, you can compete anywhere,” he said. “I’m also from Jersey, home or a lot of talent, home of a lot of hidden talent. And some of the worst weather.”

All told, the Scarlet Knights broke nine school records at the meet. Their top relay showing came in the men’s 4x100 – a fourth place in 40.08 anchored by former Donovan Catholic star James Bivins.

Rutgers has gotten better each year under head coach Bobby Farrell, who hails from Toms River. Timberg said when she first arrived on the banks, she sensed that competitors didn’t take the program seriously.

Now?

“I feel like we’re a force to be reckoned with,” she said.

Jerry Carino has covered the New Jersey sports scene since 1996. Contact him at jcarino@gannettnj.com

This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Penn Relays: Millstone's Murphy, Rutgers' Timberg set records