Penn Relays Summer Showcase Eligible for World Athletics Points

The final date of the Penn Relays Summer Showcase series has gained notoriety in recent days because of its timing and opportunity for Brigham Young University athlete James Corrigan, who finished third at the U.S. Olympic trials in the 3K steeplechase in 8:26.78.

Although Corrigan earned his bid for the Paris Games with his performance, he had no Olympic standard in that event and, based on current results, he will not make the U.S. team.

The deadline to reach that mark is Sunday. The final meet of the Penn Relays Summer Showcase Series will take place Saturday at Franklin Field in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

The additional boost revealed on Wednesday?

The competition has been promoted to World Athletics Challenger Meet status on the World Athletics Continental Tour, meaning finalists in the competition will accrue points towards their world rankings.

Corrigan is entered in Saturday’s 3K steeplechase and he will be led by his former BYU teammate Kenneth Rooks, who on Sunday became the U.S. champion in that event for the second year in a row.

Rooks, who also does not have the Olympic standard but is No. 24 in the world rankings, will pace Corrigan over 2,400 meters.

Corrigan is currently ranked No. 82 in the world athletics rankings and outside the ranking quota.

There is a chance that if Corrigan does not qualify to the Olympic standard on Saturday, he will still travel to Paris based on the world ranking quota. As it stands, Evan Jager, who finished fourth in the 3km steeplechase, is higher in the world rankings at 38th.

The top three male and female scores according to the World Athletics scoring charts will be eligible for cash prizes: $1,250 for first, $750 for second and $500 for third.

Initially designed as a meeting for all, the Penn Relays Summer Series is still open to everyone until June 27, when registration closes.

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