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The Penn Relays normally bring out the best performances from the best track and field athletes, but Sherwood High School senior Solomon Haile can attest otherwise.

In his second Penn Relays appearance in the High School Boys' 3,000 meters, Haile lost for the first time since coming in second a year ago in Philadelphia. This time, Haile had to settle for fourth place with a time of 8 minutes, 2.29 seconds.

Robert Micikas of Crestwood High (Pa.) won the race (8:23.84) with Ben Furcht (Lower Merion, Pa./8:24.72) in second and Bobby Andrews (Shoreham Wading-River, N.Y./8:25.40) in third.

"I don't feel good now and I haven't felt good at this point of the season in the past two years," Haile said. "I think I got allergies. I just came in because this is my final season to compete here and I wanted to make sure that I ran here. I did what I expected."

Sherwood coach Dan Reeks said he had spoken with a fellow coach who suffered from allergies and said it takes several weeks get back into a good training rhythm.

Aside from that, Haile has been on a number of college recruiting visits over the past two weeks and has had a hectic training and competition schedule recently.

"He's only in his second year in this country," Reeks said. "He's still learning about things such as allergies. I'm just glad that he could run. I'm happy that he ran and was competitive all the way until the final turn."

Haile typically begins to separate himself from the pack just before the final lap, but found himself in second place behind Micikas and was overtaken by Furcht and Andrews on the next-to-last turn.

Haile set a U.S. record in winning the 2009 National Scholastic Indoor 5,000 meters March 13 in New York City, winning in 14:22.88. Haile also won the boys two-mile at that meet, establishing a new meet record (9:02.67).

Haile has been, perhaps, the most dominant prep distance runner in the nation over the past year. In December he capped the cross country season by winning the Foot Locker Nationals in San Diego.

He won the 2008 boys' Class 4A state cross country crown and captured the 2009 state 4A indoor championship in the 3,200 meters in a record 9:19.74. Last spring, he established the state outdoor 3,200 record time of 9:06.13 at the state championships.

Reeks said Haile has narrowed his college recruiting list to two universities in the Southeastern Conference, but declined to name them, adding that he expects Haile to make a decision within the next week.

"I'm really confident in my training that I will be able to do well when the state championships get here," Haile said. "I hadn't been feeling well for the past two weeks. And if you're not practicing well, you're not going to do too well. The only big race that I've ever lost has come at the Penn Relays the last two years."

Elsewhere on the oval

The Paint Branch High girls' track and field team had a solid individual performance at the Penn Relays, with senior Arielle Statham finishing sixth in the High School Girls' Triple Jump with a leap of 38 feet, 11 inches.

Vanessa Jules, who won the Class 3A state indoor high jump title, had a tough afternoon on Thursday, as she finished ninth in the High School Girls' High Jump (5-5).

After winning the state 3A title in the 1,600 relay, the Panthers had a disappointing outing at the Penn Relays. The team of Korine DuVal, Medina Diao, Jasmine Jones and Jules finished with a time of 4:02.69, taking 57th.

The Georgetown Prep boys' distance medley team found itself in third place entering the last two laps of the Championship of America race. A strong start on the final leg (1,600 meters) by Ramsey Chapin helped the Hoyas move up several spots, but Chapin faded and the Hoyas finished 12th (10:27.29). Carl Dennis (1,200 meters), Nick Letourneau (400) and Joseph Woiwode (800) participated on the team with Chapin.

Quince Orchard's Marcus Brown took fifth in the shot put with a throw of 58 feet, 1.75 inches while Gaithersburg's Sean Stanley finished eighth (56 feet, 8.75 inches)

The Churchill boys' 4x800 team of Darren Harris, Will Draffin, Sei Masuoka, Sean King placed 25th overall with a time of 7:59.58.

In other action

The Wootton girls captured the Chantilly XBC Invitational as distance runner Jessie Rubin paced the Patriots over the weekend. Rubin was named meet MVP as she won the 1,600 and 3,200 meter races. She set a meet and school record in the 3,200 with a time of 11:03.5.

According to mocorunning.com, Rubin is just the fourth county girl to run under 11:05 this decade.

Freshman Casey Dowling won the long jump title with a school record (17-9.25). Dowling also captured the 100 and placed second in the 200 and 400.

Staff Writer Kent Zakour

contributed to this article.