| Gayle Hunter hit the NCAA regional standard in the 100-meter hurdles on Saturday at the Mason Spring Classic, clocking 13.79 for third place. |
FAIRFAX, Va.: March 31, 2007 ?C In the opening weekend of the outdoor season, members of the Penn State track and field teams competed at the George Mason Spring Classic on Saturday, compiling several event wins as well as a handful of NCAA regional-qualifying performances.
Coming off an All-America finish indoors, sophomore Ryan Fritz (Parkesburg, Pa.) got his regional-qualifying effort out of the way early, clearing 6-10.75 (2.10m) to win the high jump competition.
Sophomore Gayle Hunter (Riverside, Calif.), another NCAA qualifier indoors, earned a spot in the regional 100-meter hurdles, clocking 13.79 on her way to a third-place finish in the event. Hunter bettered the regional standard twice on the day, as the sophomore went 13.89 in the preliminaries, just under the regional mark of 13.92.
Hunter also had a solid day in the field, winning the long jump with a leap of 19-3.75 (5.89m). Teammate Kara Dickman (Westborough, Mass.) followed in fourth place with a mark of 18-5.50 (5.63m). Dickman also had a big day in the triple jump, posting a career-best 39-8 (12.09m) for third place.
Sophomore Claire Percival (Sarnia, Ontario) shaved over 20 seconds off her previous personal-best 3,000-meter steeplechase, winning the event with a regional-qualifying time of 10:40.73. Sonja Hinish (Williamsburg, Pa.) managed a second-place finish, clocking 11:06.97.
Senior Steve Meyers (Wayne, Pa.) used a regional-qualifying heave of 55-4.50 (16.87m) to win the shot put, with senior Dane Miller (Reading, Pa.) taking the runner-up spot with a throw of 54-7.25 (16.64m). Miller would go on to win the discus, marking 164-0 (49.98m).
| Ryan Fritz won the high jump at Saturday's George Mason Spring Classic and has already qualified for the NCAA regionals for the outdoor season. |
Kim Markel (Wexford, Pa.) also recorded a regional mark, going 59.99 in the 400-meter hurdles, good for first place overall. Amber Strouse (State College, Pa.) posted a career-best 1:02.77 to place sixth.
Also earning top honors in an individual event was freshman Mike Cadau (Mahanoy City, Pa.) in the 400-meters. The rookie went 48.15 for the win, while teammate Mike O??Donnell (Doylestown, Pa.) placed third in 48.84.
Making strong season debuts in the javelin were Harold Dunn (Butler, Pa.) and Tanner Evak (State College, Pa.), who took second and third, respectively, with marks of 199-5 (60.78m) and 197-11 (60.33m).
Junior Dennis O??Conner (Philadelphia) notched another Nittany Lion win, taking the 5,000-meters in 15:02.49. Sophomore Claire Berryman (Morgantown, W.Va.) finished second in the women??s 5K, clocking 18:04.83. Teammates Molly Ritter (Arendtsville, Pa.) and Janelle Young (Lemoyne, Pa.) also placed in the top five, taking third and fourth.
Also in the distances, freshman Jessie Babcock (Irvine, Calif.) was the top Lion finisher in the 1,500-meters, running 4:41.55 for ninth place. Senior Kelly Chadwick (State College, Pa.) was 15th in 4:45.61.
Both Mike Malizia (Flourtown, Pa.) and Mark Horton recorded personal bests in the 800-meters, clocking times of 1:53.59 and 1:53.71, respectively, good for seventh and eighth places.
In the pole vault, freshman Caitlin Fairbairn (Coatesville, Pa.) cleared an outdoor-best 11-11.75 (3.65m) for runner-up honors, while John Vellenoweth (Wheeling, W.Va.) topped out at 15-3 (4.65m) in a third-place effort.
The Nittany Lions hit the road again next weekend, traveling to Auburn, Ala., for the Tiger Track Classic. The event is scheduled for April 6-7.