May 15, 2010
BLOOMINGTON, Ind.: May 15, 2010 - Senior Bridget Franek (Hiram, Ohio) clocked the top time in the United States this year in the 3,000-meter steeplechase, on her way to her second-career Big Ten victory in the event, Saturday at the Big Ten Outdoor Track and Field Championships at Bill Hayes Track. Also turning in medal-winning efforts on day two were redshirt sophomore Joe Kovacs (Nazareth, Pa.), posting a big personal best on his way to a silver-medal finish in the discus, and senior Ryan Fritz (Parkesburg, Pa.), who claimed third-place overall in the high jump. On the women's side, junior Karlee McQuillen (Johnstown, Pa.) made the podium for the third-straight year, earning runner-up honors in the javelin. Elsewhere, the Nittany Lions enjoyed outstanding success during the Saturday's preliminary rounds, with over a dozen Penn State athletes qualifying for lanes in Sunday's event finals.
"Joe Kovacs started off the momentum on the men's side, capitalizing on the competition and earning a surprising second-place finish," said Director of Track and Field and Head Coach Beth Alford-Sullivan. "We had a great day of prelims in middle distance, and we'll continue to fight for an upper echelon finish in tomorrow's finals."
Kovacs, who finished second in the shot put at the Big Ten Indoor Championships this year, posted his best-ever finish in the discus with a career-best toss of 172-9 (52.65), which is also the ninth-best effort in Nittany Lion history. Fritz, who is already a five-time Big Ten medalist in the high jump, cleared 6-11.50 (2.12) to place third overall, despite the cold and rainy conditions. The Nittany Lion men also received a seventh-place finish from sophomore Anya Uzoh (Laurel, Md.) in the decathlon. Uzoh scored a career-best 6966 over the 10 event competition.
On the women's side, McQuillen recorded a performance of 158-7 (48.34) in the javelin to her the second silver medal of her career.
Franek, who also won the steeplechase title as a sophomore in 2008, cruised to a facility and Big Ten Meet Record 9:48.28 - the fastest time in the U.S. and NCAA this year, as well the second fastest time in the world this year according to the IAAF. Also turning in a scoring finish was freshman Nicole Lord (Media, Pa.) - the conference freshman of the year in cross country this fall - who clocked a PR 10:26.41 to finish fifth overall. Lord's effort is also the fifth fastest in the Penn State record books.
"The ladies had a perfect day in qualifying, where all expected and then some earned spots in the finals," said Sullivan of the women's team. "The inspired competition from our women's steeplechasers set the tone for this team to battle for the win a team title. We are very much looking forward to competition tomorrow."
Also adding to the team total was junior Bianca Fung (North Babylon, N.Y.) in the long jump. Fung's leap of 19-0 (5.79) was good for seventh.
The women's 4x100-meter relay got things off on the right foot, cruising to a heat victory and season-best 44.82 thanks to the efforts of Shavon Greaves (Lakewood, N.J.), Caitlin Defusco (Schwenksville, Pa.), Aleesha Barber (Decatur, Ga.) and Fawn Dorr (Akron, N.Y.). The 4x100 squad's performance was the second best in qualifying - second to only Ohio State's 44.71 - as well as the fourth fastest 400-meter relay effort in school history. Also turning in a qualifying finish was Franek, who ran 4:24.24 to earn a spot in tomorrow's 1500-meter final.
The Lions impressed throughout the sprints and hurdles, with Greaves and DeFusco both qualifying for tomorrow's finals in the 100- and 200-meters. Greaves, who is the defending Big Ten Champion in both events, was the top qualifier at both distances with marks of 11.54, and 23.30. Dorr, Barber, and freshman Doris Anyanwu (Beltsville, Md.) all made it back in the 400-meters, while Barber and rookie Evonne Britton (El Paso, Texas) qualified through in the 100-meter hurdles. Continuing the sprinting success into the evening were Megan Duncan (North Huntingdon, Pa.), Dorr, and Britton, who all earned a lane in the final of the 400-meter hurdles. Duncan's PR effort of 58.33 was the fastest of the day in the event, as well as the fourth-best mark in school history.
On the men's side, the Nittany Lion middle distance had an outstanding showing, led by 800-meter qualifiers Casimir Loxsom (New Haven, Conn.) and Lionel Williams (Staten Island, N.Y.). The Nittany Lion duo clocked the two fastest performances of the day in the event going 1:49.50, and 1:49.80, respectively - both earning preliminary heat victories. Qualifying through in the men's 1500-meters were Ryan Foster (Tasmania, Australia) and Sam Borchers (Yellow Springs, Ohio).
Action rolls on in Bloomington Sunday morning, beginning with the women's triple jump at 11:00 a.m. Check www.GoPSUsports.com for updates on the Nittany Lions during the day.