The DePaul men's and women's track and field program announced today that DePaul Alum and former Olympian Mabel Landry Staton will be recognized at the inaugural running of The DePaul Relays on Wednesday, May 14 at Lane Stadium.

Staton was a member of the United States track and field team at the 1952 Olympic Games in Helsinki, where she finished seventh in the long jump. Her jump of 19-feet-3 inches in the preliminaries set an Olympic record. Staton was the national long jump champion in 1949, 1950, 1952 and 1953. The 1954 DePaul graduate represented the United States at the 1955 Pan American Games where she earned a gold medal in the 4x100-meter relay and a bronze in the 60-meter dash.

Since DePaul did not offer intercollegiate athletics for women at the time, Staton participated in track and field through CYO and AAU sanctioned events. After leaving DePaul, Staton served as a physical educator in New Jersey. Staton currently remains close to her sport as a track and field official.

"Mabel Landry Staton is a true pioneer and hero of DePaul," Director of Athletics Jean Lenti Ponsetto said. "At the time of her competition, her example in breaking obstacles of gender and race are truly inspiring for our student-athletes and fans."

Competition at The DePaul Relays welcomes talent from six teams with field events beginning at 3:45 p.m. and running events commencing at 6:45 p.m. Field events include the hammer throw, shot put, discus, javelin, pole vault, long jump and triple jump. Competition on the track features the 3,000m steeplechase in addition to the 4x100m, 4x800m, 4x200m, sprint medley, 4x1500m and 4x400m relays.

Two presentations will celebrate the opening of the track and the generosity of DePaul's alumni and friends who made this project a possibility. At 3:30 p.m., DePaul will hold a special grand opening for the field event areas prior to the first competition. At 5:30 p.m., a special dedication dinner buffet will be served to invited guests with the Dedication Ceremony and Ribbon Cutting following immediately.