PHILADELPHIA, Pa. — Washington captured just its second Penn Relays championship in school history, and the first by the men's program, as the Huskies took the Men's Distance Medley Relay (DMR) Championship of America at Franklin Field in Philadelphia, according to a statement by the University of Washington Athletic Communications.

The men's DMR was the only event on the schedule for the Dawgs today at the legendary Penn Relays, and they made the most of their one chance, winning their first-ever title in the event in 9:25.22, ahead of rival Oregon in second. Last year's women's 4x800m victory was the first and only previous Championship of America win for UW at the Penn Relays.

Ronan McMahon-Staggs ran the opening 1200-meter leg in 2:57.70, then handed off to Bodi Ligons for the 400 meters, who posted the second-fastest split in the field of 46.08.  Kyle Reinheimer then had the fastest 800m split in 1:46.29, passing to Nathan Green for the 1,600m anchor. Green took the baton in third place but had moved up to second going into the final lap and he pulled away down the homestretch to win by more than a second, splitting a time of 3:55.15. 

"The last lap to go, I was just thinking this is like every other championship race I've been in," said Green, the NCAA miler runner-up this indoor season. "It comes down to the last 300 (meters) and then the last 80, so I was just focusing on one thing at a time. I was moving up on the Texas A&M guy, sitting on him with a lap to go, pressing up with 300 to go like I usually do, and then emphasizing the last 80 and just pulling away." 

This was the same DMR quartet that set the World Record of 9:14.10 back in the Dempsey in February, but their first time racing the event together since that day. 

"It's important to have fun," said Green, on why the Penn Relays remain a big draw. "We don't really get to do relays that often. We got three opportunities indoors, and this squad only had one chance together. Whether we won or lost, it's just about us being together." 

Washington is slated for four events on Saturday to wrap things up. The women's 4x1500m Championship is at 9:40 a.m., the men's 4xMile Championship will be at 10:05 a.m., then the women's 4x800m Championship is at 11:11 a.m., and the men's 4x800m Championship is set for 11:20 a.m.