June 28, 2010
DES MOINES, Iowa: June 26, 2010 - 2004 Penn State graduate Connie Moore won the women's 200-meter title, Sunday at the USATF Championships at Drake Stadium. Meanwhile, Nittany Lion seniors Fawn Dorr (Akron, N.Y.), and Bridget Franek (Hiram, Ohio) captured top five finishes in their respective events on the final day of competition. Senior Ryan Fritz (Parkesburg, Pa.) also fared well in his final Penn State appearance, tying for sixth in the high jump.
Moore - an 11-time NCAA All-American during her days in the Blue and White - captured her first-career U.S. crown thanks to a personal-best run of 22.40 to outlast an outstanding field. Moore's effort, which is the fourth fastest in the world this year, is also her best wind-legal clocking since the 2006 season. Moore, who was competing unattached, bested such standouts as multiple-time NCAA Champion while at South Carolina and current Nike star Shalonda Solomon, who finished second in 22.47, as well as reigning NCAA Champ Porscha Lucas - formerly of Texas A&M, now of Saucony.
Elsewhere, Dorr, who recently completed her Penn State eligibility and now runs for Brooks, notched the second-highest finish from the Nittany Lion contingent, scoring a third-place finish in the 400-meter hurdles. Dorr earned bronze-medal honors thanks to a sizzling 55.99 - the second-fastest effort her career - to finish behind Miami's Ti'erra Brown (54.85), and Nike's Nicole Leech (55.83). Franek would also garner a top five position, placing fifth in the 3,000-meter steeplechase in 10:07.49. Franek - a 2010 Penn State graduate - has also signed a professional contract and now competes for Nike. Lisa Aguilera, also of Nike, won the race in 9:53.59.
Fritz was the top Lion finisher in the field events, matching his own season-best clearance in the high jump at 7-2.50 (2.20), also coming up just shy of setting a new school record at the next height of 7-3.75 (2.23). Fritz's leap tied for sixth-place overall - the highest USATF standing of his career - along with competitors Andra Manson and Dusty Jonas - both of Nike. Nike's Jesse Williams won the event with a clearance of 7-5 (2.26).
Former Nittany Lion Shakeema (Walker) Welsch had an outstanding showing on the weekend, placing second in the triple jump with a leap of 46-2 (14.07).
Also taking on the U.S. competition were Blake Eaton (Allegany, N.Y.) and Joe Kovacs (Nazareth, Pa.) in the shot put. Eaton placed 16th in the field with a mark of 51-11.25 (15.83). Kovacs did not receive a mark after recording three fouls.
The majority of the Nittany Lion contingent will hang out their spikes for the summer, before heading back into action when the indoor track and field season gets underway next January.