April 10, 2008
UNIVERSITY PARK; Pa. - The Nittany Lion track and field teams will journey across the country for the second-straight weekend, this time, traveling to the Sun Angel Track Classic, hosted by Arizona State University, in Tempe, Ariz. The Nittany Lions are coming off a solid opening weekend at the Pepsi Team Challenge at the University Oregon, where Penn State produced 19 regional-qualifying performances and eight event champions.
The competition will not slow up this weekend, as the Sun Angel Classic is set to feature Big Ten foes Michigan, Illinois, and Iowa, as well as SEC power Auburn, and host and NCAA team champions on both the men's and women's sides indoors, Arizona State.
Looking to follow up his Hayward Field victory last weekend, standout freshman Samuel Borchers (Yellow Springs, Ohio) will run the 1,500-meters, qualifying for the elite invitational section. The race is shaping up to be the toughest competition Borchers has seen in his young career with Wisconsin's star milers Jack Bolas, Evan Jager, and Craig Miller set to race, along with professional powers Lopez Lomong, Chris Solinsky, and Matt Tegenkamp. Borchers, who ran 4:01.98 for the mile indoors, is the reigning Big Ten Athlete of the Week.
The women's 1500 also looks to be one of the highlights of the weekend, with sophomores Bridget Franek (Hiram, Ohio), and Leah Rosenfeld (Ridgefield, Conn.) representing the Lions in the invitational section. Rosenfeld got her season off to a great start in Oregon, running a PR and regional-qualifying 4:26.10, while Franek ran a 10:12.27 steeplechase - the third-fastest time in the country this season. The stellar 1500 field includes NCAA mile runner-up Nicole Edwards of Michigan and teammate Danielle Tauro, as well as Illinois' Angela Bizzari, and Villanova's Frances Koons.
In action for the first time this season will be Nittany Lion All-Americans Briene Simmons (Decatur, Ga.) and Gayle Hunter (Riverside, Calif.). Simmons will open up her 2008 outdoor campaign in the 800-meters - her signature event - while Hunter, the fifth-place finisher in the pentathlon at the NCAA indoor championships, will start out in the 100-meter hurdles, 200-meters, and long jump.
Joining Hunter in the 100 hurdles will be Aleesha Barber (Decatur, Ga.), who posted victories and regional qualifiers in both barrier races in Oregon. Interesting enough, Barber and Hunter will both get the opportunity to race against former Nittany Lion great Toyin Augustus, who will line up next to Barber in the short hurdles. Augustus holds the Penn State record in the event at 13.36 with Barber's personal best barely a blink behind at 13.39. The sensational hurdle field is also set to include defending NCAA champ Tiffany Ofili of Michigan.
Another event to watch will be the men's javelin, featuring Nittany Lions Tanner Evak (State College, Pa.) and Harold Dunn (Butler, Pa.). Evak and Dunn will be up against Florida's Adam Montague, Arizona State's Brad Roth, and Washington's David Nyland, who are all ranked among the top 10 performers in the latest NCAA standings. The women's javelin will be every bit as competitive with Karlee McQuillen (Johnstown, Pa.), and Heidi Nadeau (North Hampton, N.H.) leading the way for the Blue and White. McQuillen's season-opening 164-3 (50.07) is currently ranked 10th in the country. Several of the top javelin throwers in the country are schedule to compete including Hannah Carson, a ninth grader who threw well over 170-feet last summer.
Looking for another outstanding weekend in the sprints will be senior Shana Cox (Westbury, N.Y.). Cox won the 200- and 400-meters, and ran the fastest split on the winning 4x400-meter relay at Oregon, posting regional qualifiers in all three events. Cox and teammate Dominique Blake (Bronx, N.Y.) will both compete in the invitational 400 this weekend.
Competition begins with the men's and women's hammer throw on Friday, April 11. All other events will be contested on Saturday, April 12. Visit www.GoPSUsports.com for complete recaps and full results following both days of competition.