Jan. 31, 2009
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa.: January 31, 2009 - Junior Bridget Franek (Hiram, Ohio) posted a blistering 9:10.04 for 3,000-meters, bettering the NCAA automatic qualifying standard as well as the Penn State record, highlighting a flurry of NCAA performances, Saturday at the Penn State National - one of the most anticipated events of the indoor season. Overall, the Penn State National yielded well over 50 NCAA qualifying marks, including several athletes punching automatic tickets to the NCAA Championships.
Also among the outstanding performances from the Nittany Lions was junior Fawn Dorr (Akron, N.Y.), who clocked a personal-best and provisional-qualifying 53.76 for 400-meters. Sophomore Bianca Fung (North Babylon, N.Y.) also posted a provisional qualifier in the long jump, going 20-1 (6.12) on Friday night.
Senior Clarence Smith (Coatesville, Pa.) turned in a gold-medal performance in the triple jump, posting a leap of 51-5.50 (15.68) to best an outstanding field. Sophomore Shavon GReaves (Lakewood, N.J.) also scored an event victory, winning the 200-meters in 23.82.
Franek's record run is currently ranked second in the NCAA and bested Paula Renzi's long-standing PSU standard 9:13.07 from 1987.
There were also several notable Prs on the men's side, including Tim Johnson (New Cumberland, Pa.), who ran 4:05.74 in the mile run, and Mike Cadau (Mahanoy City, Pa.), who notched in 47.91 lifetime best in the 400-meters.
The men's distance contingent also stood out in the invitational 3000, led by John Mahoney (Richboro, Pa.) and Michael Syrnick (Philadelphia), who finished seventh and eighth, running 8:18.02, and 8:18.55, respectively. Freshman Caitlin Lane (Greenwich, N.Y.) impressed in the hot section of the women's mile, finishing in 4:54.17 to finish eighth as the top rookie in the outstanding field.
In the field, Brittany Maun (Greensburg, Pa.) notched a third place finish in the high jump, clearing 5-8 (1.73), while Gabriela Baiter (Greenlawn, N.Y.) turned in another top five effort, placing fifth in the triple jump with a season-best leap of 39-10.75 (12.16). Freshman Jocelyn Witmer (Lancaster, Pa.) cleared a PR 12-8 (3.86) in the women's invitational pole vault, good for eighth overall, while Ryan Fritz (Parkesburg, Pa.) topped out at 6-11 (2.11) in the men's high jump to finish second.
The Lions will host their final home competition of the regular season next weekend, with the Sykes-Sabock Challenge Cup set for Feb. 6-7 at Horace Ashenfelter III Indoor Track.