April 11, 2010
Final Results
Penn State Athlete Interviews
TEMPE, Ariz.: April 10, 2010 - Senior Fawn Dorr (Akron, N.Y.) reset her own school record in the 400-meter hurdles, while senior Ryan Fritz (Parkesburg, Pa.) claimed an individual victory in the high jump to lead the Nittany Lion effort, Saturday at the Sun Angel Track Classic at Arizona State University. The Nittany Lions produced strong performances across the board, including a pair of second-place finishes from junior Shavon Greaves (Lakewood, N.J.).
"I'm very pleased with our teams today," said Director of Track and Field and Head Coach Beth Alford-Sullivan. "Our athletes took advantage of some great competition and great conditions at the Sun Angel Classic, especially Fawn coming out and breaking her own school record, and Ryan earning the individual win. It was a very long day of track and field, but I think our teams responded very well and produced some great performances."
In her first appearance of the outdoor season, Dorr sprinted to a lifetime-best 56.65 in the quarter hurdles, bettering her own Penn State standard of 56.91 - set in 2009. Dorr came within an eyelash of the individual victory, finishing second to unattached competitor Jennifer Grossarth, who broke the tape at 56.64. Dorr's performance is not only a Penn State record, but also a top five effort in the NCAA this year. Dorr wasn't the only Lion to provide an outstanding result in the 400 hurdles, as freshman Evonne Britton (El Paso, Texas) and Megan Duncan (North Huntingdon, Pa.) place seventh and eighth, respectively, with finishing times of 59.30, and 1:00.10.
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Fritz earned his first event title of the season, thanks to a clearance of 7-1 (2.16). The senior's performance is also amongst the nation's elite, as the clearance is among the top 15 best jumps in the country this spring.
Throws duo Blake Eaton (Allegany, N.Y.) and Joe Kovacs (Nazareth, Pa.) also recorded solid outings in the field, with Eaton finishing third in the elite "premiere" section of the shot put with a toss of 58-10.75 (17.94), and Kovacs following in fourth with a mark of 57-2.25 (17.43). Kovacs would also turn in a top five finish in the hammer throw, posting a personal-best throw of 189-7 (57.79) for fourth.
Greaves notched a pair of silver-medal efforts, placing second in both the 200- and 400-meters. The junior recorded marks of 23.20 in the 200 and 54.15 in the 400 - the top effort by a collegiate in both events. Greaves was second-to-only Nittany Lion alum Shana Cox - now of Adidas - in the 400, with Cox clocking 53.20 for the win. Greaves, Dorr, Duncan, and teammate Aleesha Barber (Decatur, Ga.) also provided a solid standing in the 4x400-meter, running a season-best 3:35.53 to finish second in the invitational heat. Barber also earned a top three finish on her own, taking third in the 100-meter hurdles in 13.58.
Freshman Casimir Loxsom (New Haven, Conn.) and junior Owen Dawson (Coatesville, Pa.) led the Lion middle distance contingent, placing fourth and sixth, respectively in the premiere section. Loxsom was the top collegian to cross the finish line, running a personal-outdoor best 1:48.41, while Dawson also recorded an outdoor PR, going 1:48.85. Both performances are among the top 10 efforts in the Nittany Lion record books.
Also improving her standing in the Penn State Top 10 was senior Bridget Franek (Hiram, Ohio), who placed sixth in the premiere 1500-meters. Franek's finishing time was 4:20.28 is the fifth fastest in the Nittany Lion record books. Sophomore Vince McNally (Smoketown, Pa.) also ran well in the distances, placing fifth overall in the 5,000-meters with a personal-best 14:19.27.
Posting outstanding efforts in the jumps were sophomores Tanaya Lloyd (Philadelphia, Pa.) and Courtney Bell (Norristown, Pa.), who finishing fifth and sixth, respectively, in the women's triple jump. Lloyd led the way with a jump of 39-3 (11.96), while Bell posted a leap of 39-1.75 (11.93). Senior Brittany Maun (Greenville, Pa.) also finished among the top five in her event, taking fourth in the high jump.
The Lions will make the short trip to Bucknell University next weekend to compete in the Bucknell Team Challenge. Action is set for Saturday, April 17.