Oct. 5, 2009
USATF 10 Mile Results
Jamie Donaldson's Website and Blog
Twin Cities Marathon Homepage
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa.: October 5, 2009 - With the 2009 cross country season in full swing for the current Nittany Lion squads, former Penn State team members Tyler McCandless (Bath, Pa.) and Jamie (Rutkoski) Donaldson and excelling well beyond the college ranks, with McCandless posting a strong performance at the USA Men's 10-mile Championships and Donaldson setting a new American record in the women's 200,000-meters.
Donaldson - a 1996 graduate and track and field team member - made her recording-setting effort at the 28th Annual Ottawa International 24 Hour Self-Transcendence Race and Masters' 24 Hour Championship in Canada last month. Donaldson covered 200,000-meters in 21:01:28, shattering the previous record of 21:08:47, set by Sue Ellen Trapp in 1991. For the 24 hour race, Donaldson completed over 133 miles (214.487 kilometers) - a new course record - logging over seven miles more than any competitor in the men's or women's field. For her efforts, Donaldson was named USATF Athlete of the Week on Sept. 30.
McCandless, who has exhausted his cross country eligibility, but will be back with the Lions during the 2010 indoor and outdoor track and field seasons, covered the 10-mile course in Minneapolis, Minn., in 50:17 to finish 27th overall. At 22, McCandless was one of the youngest competitors in the field. U.S. Olympian Abi Abdirahman won the race in 46:35.
Also notching an outstanding performance this in Minnesota was current Penn State graduate student Luke Watson, who clocked impressive 2:15:29 at the Twin Cities Marathon. In his first appearance at the distance, the Notre Dame graduate finished seventh overall over the 26.2-mile course.
For more on Penn State cross country and track and field, log onto www.GoPSUsports.com.