| Gayle Hunter is in first place after day one of the heptathlon at the Tiger Track Classic, hosted by Auburn. |
AUBURN, Ala.: April 6, 2007 ?C The Nittany Lion track team began competition at the Auburn Tiger Track Classic on Friday, starting off the weekend with solid opening days of the multi-events, as two Nittany Lion women stand in the top three of the heptathlon and three Penn State men are currently in the top five of the decathlon.
Gayle Hunter (Riverside, Calif.) stands atop the heap after four events in the women??s heptathlon, scoring 3221 points. Teammate Amber Strouse (State College, Pa.) is currently in third with a day-one total of 2985.
Hunter ran 13.94 in the 100-meter hurdles, followed by a 5-foot, 3-inch (1.62m) clearance in the high jump, and a heave of 35-0.25 (10.67) in the shot put. The sophomore closed out the day clocking 24.83 in the 200-meters.
Strouse had an outstanding opening day, powered by a personal-best outdoor leap of 5-7.25 (867) in the high jump, four inches above the rest of the field. Strouse also posted career bests in the hurdles and the shot put, recording marks of 14.93, and 32-8.25 (9.96m).
On the men??s side, Chris Morrisey (Ligonier, Pa.) is in third position after day one, propelled by marks of 11.10 in the 100-meters, 20-6.50 (6.26m) in the long jump, 40-4 (12.19m) in the shot put, 6-2.75 (1.90m) in the high jump, and a personal-best 50.34 in the 400-meters.
Rounding out the top five spots are James Myles in fourth at 3544, and Shawn Colligan (Bradford, Pa.) in five with 3577 points.
Also competing on Friday were Helen Higgins (Waynesburg, Pa.), Emma Schmelzer (Bloomington, Ill.), and Bradlee Foerschner (North East, Pa.) in the hammer throw. Higgins notched the highest finish, placing sixth with a mark of 172-7 (52.92). Schmelzer and Foerschner recorded 13th and 14th place finishes, respectively.
Competition continues Saturday morning, beginning with the decathlon, heptathlon long jump, and women??s pole vault at 11 a.m. CST. Live results can be found at www.cfpitiming.com.