Feb. 12, 2008
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Thanks to a pair of career-best jumps and two NCAA performances at last weekend's Virginia Tech Elite meet, senior Lena Bettis (Riverside, Calif.) has been named Big Ten Field Athlete of the Week, announced by conference offices on Tuesday. The honor is the second of Bettis' decorated career, and the fifth win by a Nittany Lion this season.
Bettis began her stellar weekend with a lifetime-long leap of 41-9.25 (12.73) to finish fifth in an outstanding triple jump competition Friday night. Bettis' jump is the third best in the Big Ten this year, as well as the third-farthest leap by a Nittany Lion since the 2000 season. Teammate Gabriela Baiter (Greenlawn, N.Y.) also posted a provisional mark during the event, soaring to a personal-best 41-11.50 (12.79) to finish fourth overall.
But Bettis wasn't finished, continuing her record weekend with a personal-best and provisional-qualifying mark in the long jump on Saturday. Bettis sailed to a career-long 20-0.50 (6.11), good for a first-place finish on the afternoon. Her long jump performance is the second-best in the Big Ten this year.
Bettis and the Nittany Lions will travel to Fayetteville, Ark., this weekend for the Tyson Invitational on Feb. 15-16.
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