Jan. 15, 2009
Heat Sheets | Complete Schedule
LIVE WEBCAST OF THE PENN STATE OPEN AVAILABLE FROM 1:30-3:30 p.m.
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa.: - After getting the season off to a solid start at last weekend's Penn State Relays, the Nittany Lion track and field teams will be back in action this weekend at the Penn State Open, Saturday at Ashenfelter Indoor Track. The Nittany Lions will welcome a host of programs from around the East Coast including California (PA), Cornell, Delaware, Duquesne, East Carolina, Hampton, Indiana (PA), Lock Haven, Morgan State, Penn, Pittsburgh, Robert Morris, Rutgers, Seton Hall, St. John's, and West Virginia.
The Lions started 2009 with a bang last weekend, winning over a dozen events, and enjoying several national-caliber performances. Senior Ryan Fritz (Parkesburg, Pa.) led the way with an NCAA-provisional qualifying clearance of 7-1.25 (2.18) in the high jump. Fritz's leap is currently ranked second nationally, and number one in the Big Ten Conference. Fritz was named Big Ten Field Athlete of the Week for his performance. Junior Mike Cadau (Mahanoy City, Pa.) was also off to the races last weekend, setting a Penn State Relays record in the 500-meters at 1:02.94.
Also looking to build on strong showings last weekend are sprint standout Shavon GReaves (Lakewood, N.J.) - the women's 60-meter winner at the Penn State Relays - and Emma Schmelzer (Bloomington, Ill.), who managed double wins in the shot put and 20-pound weight in the season opener. The Lions were also solid in the men's throws, with Blake Eaton (Allegeny, N.Y.) taking second in the shot put, and Adam Thielemann (Mechanicsburg, Pa.) placing second in the 35-pound weight.
Along with Fritz in the high jump, the Lions will look to continue their success in the vertical jumps, led by Brittany Maun (Greensburg, Pa.) - last week's women's high jump champion - as well as Caitlin Fairbairn (Coatesville, Pa.), who tied for first in the pole vault at the Penn State Relays, and John Vellenoweth (Wheeling, W.Va.), who took second in the men's pole vault.
The Nittany Lion horizontal jumpers are also looking at promising seasons as the Penn State women took the top four spots in last weekend's long jump competition, and four of the top five places in the triple jump. Highlighting the afternoon were Gayle Hunter (Riverside, Calif.) and Gabriela Baiter (Greenlawn, N.Y.), who provided wins in the long jump and triple jump, respectively. On the men's side, senior Clarence Smith (Coatesville, Pa.) came away with a triple jump victory - just short of provisional qualifying status - and took runner-up honors in the long jump.
Many of the Lions will make their first appearance individually after an afternoon of relays last week, including middle distance standouts Ryan Foster (Tasmania, Australia) and Lionel Williams (Staten Island, N.Y.), as well as outstanding longer distance athletes Leah Rosenfeld (Ridgefield, Conn.) and Meghan Noecker (Reading, Pa.).
Action begins at 11 a.m. Saturday at Horace Ashenfelter Indoor Track. Live results will be available at www.GoPSUsports.com. Full results and Penn State recaps will be available at the conclusion of the meet.