April 16, 2011
AUBURN, Ala.: April 16, 2011 - Speedy sprint performances, and a slew of outstanding marks in the field events, highlighted the Nittany Lion track and field team's efforts, Saturday at the War Eagle Invitational at Auburn University. Among the notable efforts were redshirt- junior Joe Kovacs (Nazareth, Pa.), who led the Nittany Lions in the throws, as well as freshman standout Brady Gehret (Altoona, Pa.) in the sprints, and junior Jocelyn Witmer (Lancaster, Pa.), who scored a victory in the women's pole vault.
Building on a personal-best toss in the hammer throw on Friday night, Kovacs turned in another lifetime-best effort on Saturday - this time, going 180-6 (55.03) for fourth on the day. Kovacs' PR effort also ranks fourth in Penn State history, and stands second in the Big Ten on the year. The redshirt junior would also turn in a third-place finish in the men's shot put, via a season-best toss of 62-0.50 (18.91). Kovacs' shot mark is also notable on the national stage as it currently ranks third in Division I, and first in the conference. Senior Blake Eaton (Allegany, N.Y.) finished right behind his teammate, scoring a season-best 60-6 (18.44) for fourth on the afternoon, and second in the Big Ten standings. Eaton's performance is also top 10 effort nationally.
Witmer also enjoyed an outstanding afternoon in the field, matching her own season-best 12-3.50 (3.75) to win the women's pole vault in windy conditions. Also posting solid results was senior Bianca Fung (North Babylon, N.Y.), who topped out a season-best 5-7.75 (1.72) to tie for fifth in the high jump. Fung also scored a season-best 19-11 (6.07) to take seventh in the long jump. On the men's side, junior Doug Moppert (Malvern, Pa.) also fared well in the horizontals, placing fourth in the men's long jump with a 2011 outdoor-best leap of 24-5.50 (7.45). Both Fung's and Moppert's efforts rank in among the top five marks in the Big Ten.
Gehret led the men's sprints contingent on the track, clocking a personal-outdoor best 46.69 in the 400-meters, good for fourth on the day and fourth on the Penn State All-Time Top 10 list. The rookie would come back to score another top five finish in the 200-meters, placing fifth with an effort of 21.10. Teammate Aaron Nadolsky (Altoona, Pa.) would also hold his own in the sprints, running outdoor PRs of 21.61 for 200, and 48.06 in the 400. The pair would make up half of the fifth-place men's 4x400 - along with Lionel Williams (Staten Island, N.Y.), and Emunael Mpanduki (Harare, Zimbabwe) -- which clocked 3:11.27.
Sophomore Evonne Britton (El Paso, Texas) paced the Nittany Lions in the women's sprints and hurdles, turning in a runner-up finish in the 400-meter hurdles in a season-best 57.96 - the top time in the Big Ten this spring. Senior Megan Duncan (North Huntingdon, Pa.) was right behind, placing third overall in 59.08 - also a season best. Britton also recorded a top 10 effort in the 100-meter hurdles thanks to a 2011-best 13.71, placing seventh overall. Britton, Duncan, and teammates Doris Anyanwu (Beltsville, Md.) and Ije Iheoma (Holland, Pa.) combined to place fifth in the 4x400, running 3:40.77. Iheoma and Anyanwu also enjoyed solid afternoons individually, with Iheoma taking eighth in the 400 in 54.24, and Anyanwu following in 1th in 54.95.
Williams was the Lions' top finisher in the middle distances, placing second in the 800-meters with a finishing time of 1:51.27. Coming off a PR in the 1500-meters on Friday, freshman Rebekka Simko (Mentor, Ohio) was the top Penn Stater in the women's half mile, taking eighth in 2:10.25.
The Nittany Lions will be in action again next week, taking on an outstanding field at the Jesse Owens Classic at Ohio State University. Action is slated for Saturday and Sunday, April 23-4. For more on Nittany Lion track and field, log on to www.GoPSUsports.com.