Feb. 13, 2010
SEATTLE, Wash. : February 12, 2010 - Paced by an NCAA automatic-qualifying performance from senior Bridget Franek (Hiram, Ohio), the Nittany Lion track and field team had an outstanding opening day at the Husky Classic, hosted by the University of Washington at Dempsey Indoor. Franek wasn't the only Nittany Lion to record a national-qualifying performance, as classmate Cheryl Spring (The Woodlands, Texas) dipped under the NCAA provisional standard, while sophomore Kyle Dawson (Coatesville, Pa.) also bettered the NCAA provisional mark.
Franek finished third in undoubtedly one of the most hotly contested 5,000-meter races of the indoor season, finishing in a personal-best 15:56.76 - just over three seconds off the Penn State school record. Franek would take third behind top distance athletes Nicole Blood of Oregon (15:51.59), and Jackie Areson of Tennessee (15:51.59), who headlined a field that saw eight runners go under the NCAA automatic standard (16:07.50), and another 15 better the provisional qualifier (16:44.50). Spring held her own in the top section of the event, clocking 16:22.30 to finish 13th overall.
The Nittany Lions saw personal-best performances throughout the 5,000, including Kara Millhouse (Boiling Springs, Pa.), who just missed provisional-qualifying status with a PR effort of 16:47.63. Freshman Brooklyne Ridder (Cincinnati, Ohio) also clocked a career best, going 17:08.74, while senior Claire Berryman (Morgantown, W.Va.) went 17:14.63 - within seconds of her lifetime best.
Dawson led the Lion effort on the men's side, clocking 14:07.56 to hit the NCAA provisional mark 14:10.00 and finish 25th in a field that included nearly 30 NCAA-qualifying performances.
The Lions will be back on the track on Saturday, with the Husky Classic scheduled to pick back up at 8:00 p.m. PST.