FAYETTEVILLE, Ark.: February 14, 2009 - Bolstered by top-three finishes from seniors Aleesha Barber (Decatur, Ga.) and Ryan Fritz (Parkesburg, Pa.) the Nittany Lion track and field teams completed another outstanding weekend of action, Saturday at the Tyson Invitational at the University of Arkansas. Both Barber and Fritz also notched NCAA-qualifying marks, with Barber improving her season-best performance in the 60-meter hurdles, and Fritz coming within a centimeter of his 2009 best.
Barber sped to a third-place finish in the 60 hurdles, clocking an NCAA-provisional qualifying 8.30 seconds against an outstanding field. Fritz, who was also competing against a decorated list of competitors, cleared 7-01.75 (2.18) in the high jump, also good for third overall.
Senior Clarence Smith (Coatesville, Pa.) also held his own against some of the NCAA's finest, taking seventh in the championship section of the triple jump. Smith, who has already made his way to the NCAA performance list, posted a leap of 51-10.50 (15.81) - just six inches off his season best. Junior Brittany Maun (Greensburg, Pa.) tied for sixth in the women's championship high jump, clearing the bar at 5-07.75 (1.72).
Riding the momentum from John Vellenoweth's (Wheeling, W.Va.) school record clearance on Friday, the Nittany Lion women's pole vaulters also excelled at Tyson, as Caitlin Fairbairn (Coatesville, Pa.) and Amanda Palenchar (Bradenville, Pa.) both topped out at 12-3.50 (3.75) - a PR for Palenchar - good for 15th and 20th places, respectively.
On the track, Shavon GReaves (Lakewood, N.J.) posted a top 10 finish in the women's 200-meters, going 23.96 for eighth place overall, while junior Mike Cadau (Mahanoy City, Pa.) ran 22.11 in the men's sections.
The Nittany Lions will take a weekend off before competing at the Big Ten Championships on Feb. 28 and March 1. The men are set to compete at Horace Ashenfelter III Indoor Track, and the women are scheduled to travel to Indiana University.