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[Lynn Burke]

Peninsula teams come up short in 400-meter relay

Bethel's 400-meter relay team won its heat, but did not qualify for the Championship of America race at the Penn Relays. The Bruins ran 42.57, not fast enough to advance them to the finals.

Bethel's team consisted of Earl House, Ja-Vell Bullard, Reggie Williams and Eric Williams.

Bethel had the third best time among Virginia schools, behind Western Branch (42.47) and Nansemond River (42.50).

Although the Bruins didn't make the Championship of America final, they did advance to the large school consolation final this afternoon along with Western Branch and Nansemond River.

It'll be a busy day for two members of the team. House and Bullard will join Austin Cuffee and Sherrard Marrow in an attempt to qualify for the Championship of America 1,600-meter title in the morning.

Bethel would run the 1,600 relay qualifications around 10 a.m., come back for the 400 race at 2, then, if they qualify, run the 1,600 final at 5:30.

Other area teams and their time:

Phoebus 43.17 (Lovante Battle, Jeremy Hutchins, Daryl Scott, Darius Shelton)

Woodside 43.55 (Carl Vance, DeAndre Simmons, Najee Curry, Christopher Willis)

Lafayette 44.99 (team members not listed on the Penn Relays website)

Menchville was disqualified.

In the girls 3,200-meter relay, Eleanor Roosevelt of Greenbelt, Md., set an American record and, according to the Penn Relays website, became the first American team to break 8:50 with a time of 8:43.12. Still, Roosevelt finished second behind Holmwood Tech of Jamaica, which ran 8:41.92.

In the Championship of America girls 400-meter relay final, Landstown finished fourth in 46.07. The Eagles were the top American team following winner Edwin Allen (44.79), Vere Technical and Homewood Tech of Jamaica.