PHILADELPHIA – The Columbia men's track & field team finished the 2011 Penn Relays with one of the strongest performances in school history in the 4x800m relay.

In the Championship of America event, the Lions were competing against some of the strongest teams in the nation, including defending event champion Virginia, indoor national champions BYU, Georgetown, Penn State and others. And Columbia finished right with the pack, proving the Lions' continued dominance in middle distance events.

Senior Dylan Isaacson led off for the Lions, splitting 1:53.27 in the first leg. He handed off to senior Matthew Stewart, who had the fastest leg for Columbia. Stewart ran 1:49.11, handing off to first-year William Kovalczyk, who finished with a split of 1:50.69. And with senior Jeff Moriarty running the anchor leg, Columbia stayed with the pack. Moriarty ran 1:50.88, keeping the Lions within striking distance of several squads. Columbia finished with a time of 7:23.95, the fourth fastest time in school history, and good for ninth overall.

Complete results from the 2011 Penn Relays are available at www.pennrelaysonline.com. Up next for the Lions is the 2011 Ivy League Heptagonal Championships, which will take place in New Haven, Conn., Saturday, May 7 and Sunday, May 9.