Marco Langon delivered a heart-stopping final lap to lead Villanova to a razor-thin victory in the college men’s 4xMile Championship at the Penn Relays on Saturday at Franklin Field, finishing just five milliseconds ahead of Oregon.
Langon sealed the win with an electric anchor leg timed at 3 minutes, 55.94 seconds, completing the Wildcats’ overall time of 16:18.47. His performance flipped the tables from the previous day’s distance medley relay (DMR), where he had finished second behind Oregon’s Simeon Birnbaum.
“With 150 to go, I was on Marco’s shoulder, feeling confident I’d win,” Birnbaum said. “But Marco surprised me — he can close faster than I thought.”
Langon recounted how he channeled his emotions after the DMR loss. “I soaked in my sorrows for five minutes, put on some NBA YoungBoy, stopped feeling sorry for myself, and went into the next day a new man,” he said. That mindset fueled his drive to lead Villanova across the finish line first.
Villanova’s victory was built on strong opening legs by Sean Donoghue, Ben Thomas, and Bailey Habler before Langon took charge. “I knew the next day we were going to win this thing,” Langon said. “I just trusted my instincts and didn’t look back.”
Langon dedicated the win to his teammates and family, including his mother, sister, and girlfriend. “I wanted to win this wheel for everybody,” he said, referring to the iconic Penn Relays championship trophy.
Penn’s Field Athletes Dominate Despite Rain
The University of Pennsylvania also scored major wins in the field events on a rain-soaked Saturday, with senior high jumper Kam and shot putter Jessica Oji claiming gold watches in their events.
Oji threw a winning 18.15 meters on her third attempt in the college women’s shot put championship, outdistancing Virginia’s Brooke Lumpkin, who finished second at 16.23 meters. “Winning this meet wearing the Penn stripes has been a huge goal,” Oji said, celebrating a milestone in her senior year.
Kam reflected on the bittersweet nature of her final home outdoor competition. “It’s nostalgic — I was a freshman here, and now I’m a senior. This is my last time jumping at home outdoors.”
Other Highlights from the Penn Relays
Villanova’s women secured third place in the college women’s 4×1500 meter relay, clocking a solid 17:19.34, trailing just behind a strong N.C. State squad.
Stanford took home the championship in the college women’s 4×800 meter relay, with Juliette Whittaker anchoring the Cardinals to victory. Juliette’s sister, former Penn runner Isabella Whittaker, was on hand coaching from the infield, adding an emotional family element to the meet’s electric atmosphere.
“As amazing as the energy and crowds are here, it can get really overwhelming, so it was nice seeing so many familiar faces,”
Juliette said, highlighting the special spirit of the Penn Relays.
The Penn Relays remain one of the premier track events in the U.S., showcasing elite collegiate talent and drawing passionate crowds despite challenging weather.
With Villanova’s exhilarating 4xMile victory and Penn’s field successes, Saturday’s action at Franklin Field delivered unforgettable performances and set the stage for more thrilling races to come.
