Australian track stars Sean Wroe, Lachlan Renshaw, Jeff Riseley and Ryan Gregson combined for a thrilling second place in the distance medley relay at the prestigious Penn Relays meeting in the United States.

The quartet were just edged out by Morocco (9:17.48) as they clocked 9:17.56 and relegated an American Red team led by Bernard Lagat (9:18.09) to third at the traditional Philadelphia track meeting.

In his first competitive hit out since being forced out of the Commonwealth Games with a stress fracture, Australian 1500m record holder Gregson got the Australians off to a flying start in the 1200m opening leg.

His 2:28.66 run had them battling for the lead as he passed the baton to dual Commonwealth Games medallist Wroe who ran his 400m in 45.95s.

Renshaw ran the penultimate 800m leg in 1:46.29 before Australian 1500m champion Riseley set out for the one mile.

Morocco’s Continental Cup 1500m champion Amine Laalou surged ahead in a desperate sprint finish and held on to win by inches from Renshaw after both overhauled the American team.

The oldest event on the US track and field calendar, the Penn Relays have been held in Pennsylvania for 117 years.

Source http://wwos.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=8243251