March 1, 2008
MINNEAPOLIS: March 1, 2008 - The Nittany Lion women's track and field team stands in third place with one day of competition on the books, Saturday at the Big Ten Track and Field Championships at University Field House. Behind a silver medal finish from junior Emma Schmelzer (Bloomington, Ill.), two bronze medal performances from junior Gayle Hunter (Riverside, Calif.), and an all-around outstanding day in the preliminary rounds the Lions are in prime position to challenge for a conference title of Sunday. All told, the Nittany Lion women ended the afternoon with 33 points, with additional scoring performances from Bridget Franek (Hiram, Ohio) and the distance medley relay. Host Minnesota is in first with 58 points, with Michigan in second with 37.
"The Nittany Lions gave a tremendous first day effort, setting us up to contend for the win tomorrow," said Director of Track and Field Beth Alford-Sullivan. "Two podium performances from Gayle certainly shows what caliber of athlete she is within the Big Ten Conference, and a surprise second place finish from Emma gives us a great boost in momentum to challenge for a team title."
After sneaking into the last spot in the final, Schmelzer popped a career-best 49-7.75 (15.13m) on her penultimate shot put attempt, vaulting from eighth to second to secure her first-career trip to the Big Ten medal stand. Schmelzer improved her personal best by over a foot to finish second to only provisional qualifier Liz Podominick of Minnesota, and ahead of Ohio State standout Veronica Jatsek.
After falling to fifth place after the pentathlon shot put, Hunter mounted a comeback, beginning with a big 19-11 (6.07m) long jump, which was the best in the field and tied her season best. In fourth going into the 800-meters - the final pentathlon event - Hunter posted a career-best 2:19.42 to claim bronze medal honors and add six points to the Lion total.
Hunter got off on the right foot in the 60-meter hurdles, nosing Michigan's Wade at the finish line to clock 8.60, winning her heat, and tying Iowa's Tammilee Kerr for the fastest time of the morning. Minnesota's Liz Roerhig won the event for the fourth-consecutive year, posting an automatic-qualifying and Big Ten record 4218. Michigan's Bettie Wade was second with 4089.
Hunter's big jumping continued in the open long jump as the junior posted a season-best tying leap of 19-11 (6.07m) to finish third in an outstanding field. Bianca Fung (North Babylon, N.Y.) and Lena Bettis (Riverside, Calif.) also contributed scoring performances, with efforts of 19-5.50 (5.93m), and 19-5.25 (5.92m), respectively, good for sixth and eighth.
Gayle Hunter managed two bronze medal performances on Saturday |
In one of the most exciting races of the evening, Franek held her ground among arguably the nation's deepest distance conference, breaking away from the field along with Michigan's Nicole Edwards, Iowa's Meghan Armstrong, and Michigan State's Nicole Bush in the late stages of the 3,000-meters. In a furious sprint the finish, the four women all finished within a second of one another, with Armstrong nosing Edwards for the win. Franek clocked a personal-best 9:19.39, among a field that produced eight provisional qualifiers. Franek's performance also improves her NCAA standing in the event.
An entire pack of Lions will advance through to tomorrow's final rounds, led by sprint star Shana Cox (Westbury, N.Y.), who will compete in both the 200- and 400-meters. Teammates Dominique Blake (Bronx, N.Y.), and Fawn Dorr (Akron, N.Y.) will join Cox in the 400 final after advancing with heat victories. The Lions are primed for points in the 200, sending all four of their entrants to Sunday's final, including Cox, Blake, Aleesha Barber (Decatur, Ga.), and Shavon GReaves (Lakewood, N.J.).
Barber and Greaves will also be back individually in the straightaway races, with Greaves claiming a lane in the 60-meter final with a qualifying time of 7.46 - the fastest in qualifying and a career best - and Barber cruising through to the 60-meter hurdle championship with a preliminary time of 8.27. Dorr will also be a double finalist, advancing in the 600-meters, along with teammate Briene Simmons (Decatur, Ga.).
Sophomore Leah Rosenfeld (Ridgefield, Conn.) held onto Minnesota duo Jamie Cheever and Heather Dorniden down the final stretch of the mile to run 4:50.14, just a second off her personal best. Rosenfeld's gutsy performance was also enough for a spot in tomorrow's final.
Action resumes Sunday, with the weight throw and triple jump kicking things off at 12 p.m. CST. Check back to http://www.GoPSUsports.com for a full recap following the day's events.