April 26, 2008
PHILADELPHIA, Pa.: April 26, 2008: The Nittany Lion women's 4x400-meter relay team made Penn State history on Saturday, capturing the program's first-ever Championship of America crown in the event at Penn Relays, winning the race with a school-record 3:31.44, and bettering national powerhouses LSU, Texas A&M, and South Carolina. Team members included All-Americans Dominique Blake (Bronx, N.Y.), Aleesha Barber (Decatur, Ga.), Gayle Hunter (Riverside, Calif.) and Shana Cox (Westbury, N.Y.). The win was the first since the Nittany Lions won the 4x800-meters in 1978, and the first since the NCAA began sponsoring women's sports in the early 1980s. The Nittany Lions bettered the previous school record 3:31.75 from 2007, which include Blake, Hunter, Cox, and Briene Simmons (Decatur, Ga.) at last year's NCAA East Regional Championships.
"First and foremost, it was an awesome way to showcase our women's program by winning a signature event at the Penn Relays," said Director of Track and Field and head coach Beth Alford-Sullivan. "These five young ladies - including Fawn Dorr (Akron, N.Y.), who ran a great in the prelims - have just done such a great job of competing at such a high level, and resetting yet another school record."
Blake got the historic effort off to a spectacular start on the lead-off leg, splitting 53.4 to hand off dead even with South Carolina and LSU. "I knew I had to get out, get in good position, and just maintain," said Blake of her performance on the lead off leg. "The think I executed my race almost perfectly."
Barber took the stick on the second leg, a few strides off of South Carolina's Faraign Giles, who was the was the first to the pole at the 200-meter mark. With 150-meters to go, Barber mounted an outstanding charge, sprinting past the field and bringing the Lions to the front of the pack at the halfway mark. Barber's unofficial readout was 54.6.
"All season, we've wanted to come in here, make history, and win a wheel," said Barber.
Hunter then gave one of the more impressive efforts of the weekend for the Lions, valiantly fighting off several surges from LSU's Latavia Thomas - the 2008 NCAA Indoor Champion in the 800-meters. Hunter would split a sizzling 52.7 to outlast Thomas down the stretch, putting a step on the Tigers and handing off to Cox with a victory well in reach.
"I just kept thinking, `get the stick to Shana, get the stick to Shana,'" said Hunter of her thoughts during the race. "I knew if I could get her the baton in good position, we would be in a great spot."
And Cox didn't disappoint on the anchor, quickly scampering away LSU closer Deonna Lawrence and leaving no doubt as to who would capture the victory in front of a screaming Penn Relays crowd. Cox finished up with a 51.7 split - the fastest of the entire race.
"My three teammates did an amazing job, and I couldn't have performed like I did without them," said Cox. "They couldn't have put me in a better position, and I had to bring it through for them."
"Dominique did a great job on the leadoff, Aleesha ran with the heart of a Lion to put us in great position, and Gayle competed with a ton of pride to allow Shana to open it up and dominate for the win," continued Sullivan. "Coach (Chris) Johnson has continued to do an outstanding job in preparing these young ladies for success."
Also giving an tremendous effort in the relays was the men's 4x800-meters, which posted time of 7:26.30 to finish fourth in the Championship of America. Sophomore Mike Cadau (Mahanoy City, Pa.) got this started, handing off in the middle of a tight pack. Freshman Lionel Williams (Staten Island, N.Y.) ran second, keeping the Lions within striking distance of the leaders, turning the baton over to classmate Samuel Borchers (Yellow Springs, Ohio), who mounted an outstanding kick to bring the Lions through among the top five teams. Senior and two-time Big Ten Champion Mark Miller (Shillington, Pa.) was outstanding on the anchor, hanging on to hard closing pack of some of the nation's best half milers.
"The 4x800 represented men's program very well," said Sullivan. "Mike and Lionel both gave us great efforts, we got an inspiring finish from Sam, and a tremendous effort from Mark on the anchor. The 4x800, in addition our three guys sweeping the triple jump, our men certainly made a statement at the Penn Relays."
In the field, the men's triple jumpers dominated the eastern college section, with junior Clarence Smith (Coatesville, Pa.) leading the way with a leap of 50-6.25 (15.40) - a career-outdoor best - in the victory. Classmates Jay Pagana (Selinsgrove, Pa.), and Ryan Taylor (Spanish Town, Jamaica) followed in second and third with jumps of 49-1.75 (14.98), and 49-0.25 (14.94), respectively.
The Lions continue their outdoor season next weekend, traveling to Columbus, Ohio, for the Jesse Owens Track Classic at Ohio State. Action begins on Friday, May 2.