June 20, 2008
COLUMBUS, Ohio: June 20, 2008 - Just a week removed from earning NCAA All-America honors, freshman Karlee McQuillen (Johnstown, Pa.) can add U.S. Junior Champion to her growing resume, taking top honors in the javelin at the USATF Junior National Championships, Friday at Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium. McQuillen earned the title in convincing fashion, setting a new meet record 171-05 (52.24) on her way to the medal stand.
After standing in the lead for most of the event, McQuillen proved to be one of the most tenacious competitors in the field, regaining her top spot on her fifth throw after Nebraska recruit Roxanne Grizzle took the lead with a toss of 170-03 (51.89). McQuillen bounced back, posting her top effort of the day, and breaking the previous meet record of 170-0 (51.83), set by Brigham Young's Lindsey Johnson in 2002. With her first-place finish, McQuillen will move on to the IAAF World Junior Championships in Bydgoszcz, Poland. McQuillen is the first Penn State freshman on the women's side to qualify for the world junior team since standout sprinter Shana Cox (Westbury, N.Y.) in 2004.
Teammate Kim Hanslovan (Luthersburg, Pa.) also finished off an outstanding freshman season, taking fifth overall with an effort of 153-05 (46.77).
Action continues tomorrow as Bianca Fung (North Babylon, N.Y.) will compete in the long jump, and Joe Kovacs (Nazareth, Pa.) and Blake Eaton (Allegeny, N.Y.) will aim for top finishes in the men's shot put.