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The University of Mississippi Athletics
Ole Miss' Men's 4x400 Meter Relay Wins Championship
6/21/1999 | Track and Field
April 26, 1999
PHILADELPHIA, Pa. - To compete in the Penn Relays is to compete against the best the track and field world has to offer. At last weekend's Penn Relays, the Ole Miss men's 4x400 meter relay team proved that it was the best, winning the 4x400 meter relay Championship of America title.
The Rebel 4x400 meter relay team of Wayne Woolery, Jimmy Love, Savante Stringfellow and Alonzo Banks won the Championship of America title with its first-place finish in the event. The quartet won the event with a time of 3:08.90.
"This is one of the top four or five moments in Ole Miss track and field history," said head coach Joe Walker, who is in his 17th year at Ole Miss. "We have had a couple of individuals win national titles, and Tony Dees won the silver medal at the 1992 Olympics. We also had the men's sprint medley relay win the Penn Relay Championship of America in 1990, and this group ranks right up there with them.
"Winning this championship is tremendous because, at the Penn Relays, you always compete against the best and in front of a crowd close to 50,000. To win one of the Championship of America events at the Penn Relays is an incredible accomplishment. The Penn Relays have been held since 1894, and many schools have never won a Championship of America title, so this is a great honor. I am very proud of this group.
The only other Championship of America title won by the Ole Miss track and field program came in 1990. The men's sprint medley relay team of George Kersh, Kevin Buffington, Thomas Johnson and Michael Cox won that event with a time of 3:14.98. The time of 3:14.98 was the fastest in the world that year. And now, another quartet can add their named to the Ole Miss track and field history book.
"This accomplishment is great for Alonzo, Jimmy, Savante and Wayne because now they will be a part of Ole Miss track and field history," said Walker. "These four had the highest finish ever in the 4x400 at the NCAA indoor meet, and now they go down as Penn Relay champions.
"There are other things that we are trying to accomplish. This relay team is trying to win a Southeastern Conference championship and an NCAA title, but this is still quite an honor and nothing can take it away from them. Winning this Penn Relays title is a feat that not only track and field fans, but also sports fans realize the importance of because of the magnitude of the Penn Relays. This is a very significant moment in our program's history."
The Ole Miss men's and women's track and field teams continue their seasons on Saturday, May 1 when they host the Ole Miss Invitational. The meet will be the final competition before the SEC Championships May 13-15.
