Feb. 8, 2008
BLACKSBURG, Va.: February 8, 2008 - Taking full advantage of their first road trip of the season, the Nittany Lion track and field teams engineered an outstanding opening day at the Virginia Tech Elite at Rector Field House, including NCAA provisional-qualifying performances from Gabriela Baiter (Greenlawn, N.Y.), Lena Bettis (Riverside, Calif.), Clarence Smith (Coatesville, Pa.), and the women's distance medley relay, as well as NCAA improvements from Tyler Hoffman (Lewisburg, Pa.) and Dominique Blake (Bronx, N.Y.).
"We produced some great NCAA marks and showed a great competitive team effort overall for our first road trip," said Director of Track and Field Beth Alford-Sullivan. "Clarence, Gabriela, and Lena highlighted a great performance from the entire jumps squad, and he had some outstanding improvements from the throwers. And of course, it was incredible to see Shana Cox (Westbury, N.Y.) open up her season on a provisional qualifying relay. We look forward to another competitive effort tomorrow."
Shana Coxsplit 52.4 on the provisional qualifying DMR at the Virginia Tech Elite meet.
Baiter, who is only a freshman, soared to a personal-best 41-11.50 (12.79) to finish fourth overall, and posted the top jump by a collegiate. Baiter's leap is the best in the Big Ten this season, the 12th-farthest in the NCAA, and the second-best by a Nittany Lion indoors since the 2000 season. Bettis followed in fifth with a mark of 41-9.25 (12.73), also a career-indoor best, as well as a provisional performance.
Smith popped a lifetime-best triple jump of 50-11.50 (15.53), to take third in an tremendous competition, behind a pair of provisional qualifiers from Georgia Tech. Smith's outstanding mark, which is also the fifth-best in Penn State history, is currently rated 12th in the NCAA. Smith's Teammate Jay Pagana (Danville, Pa.) followed in fourth with a leap of 50-0.50 (15.25) - also a career-indoor best.
The women's DMR also registered its fastest time of the season behind stellar performances from Leah Rosenfeld (Ridgefield, Conn.), Cox, Briene Simmons (Decatur, Ga.), and Bridget Franek (Hiram, Ohio). Rosenfeld led off the effort with a 3:31.8 1200-meter leg, handing off behind Tennessee and Virginia Tech.
The baton then went to Cox, who split a blistering 52.4 for 400-meters in her much anticipated 2008 debut, bringing the Lions back in striking distance, before Simmons laid down a 2:06.8 readout to keep the Lions in the lead pack. Franek closed with a 4:46.4 on the 1600-meter anchor, securing the Lions' 11:17.93 provisional performance and third-place finish. Tennessee clocked an NCAA automatic 11:07.89 for first, while host Virginia Tech took runner-up honors in 11:14.67.
Tyler Hoffmanimproved his NCAA provisional standing with a season-best throw Friday night.
The men's distance medley would also give an impressive effort, capturing a 9:53.42 victory of a solid field. Brian Fuller (Camp Hill, Pa.) led off the race on the 1200, handing off to Lionel Williams (Staten Island, N.Y.) on the 400. Williams would pass the baton to Mark Miller (Shillington, Pa.), who ran the 800 leg, before Samuel Borchers (Yellow Springs, Ohio) finished of the Lions' season-best effort on the 1600 closer.
Blake sped to a season-best 54.24, improving on her Big Ten leading time, and upping her NCAA standing. Blake finished fifth overall as the third-fastest collegiate in the elite invitational section. The senior led a trio of Nittany Lions in the event, as Fawn Dorr (Akron, N.Y.), and Gayle Hunter (Riverside, Calif.) took sixth and seventh, respectively.
Hoffman launched a season-long 65-9 (20.04) - the fourth-best throw in Lion history - to finish third in the men's weight throw. Hoffman posted a provisional effort for the second weekend in-a-row, while climbing three slots on the NCAA list, and leading a total of five Lions to claim top nine standings.
Brian Fullerled off the winning men's DMR at Friday's Virginia Tech Elite meet.
Action in Blacksburg continues tomorrow with the men's high jump at 11:30 a.m. Running events are set to go off at 1 p.m., with the meet scheduled to conclude at 5:25 p.m. Log onto www.GoPSUsports.com for a full recap following the day's events. Keep track of all the action with live results at www.flashresults.com.
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