April 26, 2011
Results at FlashResults.com
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PHILADELPHIA, Pa. - Freshman Brittney Howell (Wyncote, Pa.) is on pace for a second-place finish after four heptathlon events, while junior Anya Uzoh (Laurel, Md.) is line for runner-up standing in the decathlon, Tuesday at the Penn Relays multi-event competition at Franklin Field. Also faring well through day one of the heptathlon competition were redshirt-freshman Kelsey Couts (Powell, Ohio), and freshman Kaitchen Dearborn (New Milford, Pa.), who stand fourth and seventh, respectively, with three events remaining.
Uzoh, who stands just 132 points behind leader Marcos Sanchez of Turabo with a day-one total of 3845 points, also managed to claim a spot in the Penn State record book during the competition, clearing a personal-best 6-8.50 (2.04) in the high jump - the best mark of the afternoon, as well as the Nittany Lion decathlon record. The clearance, which added 840 points to his total score, bettered the previous Penn State multi-event standard of 6-8 (2.03), set by Barry Walsh in 1989.
Uzoh ran well out of the gate, running 11.13 for the 100-meters - the fastest time of the day and worth 832 points. The junior then posted a leap of 22-0.50 (6.71) in the long jump, good for another 746 points. In the shot put, Uzoh recorded an effort of 37-3.50 (11.36) - the third-best mark of the competition - to add 568 points. Ending the afternoon on a high note, Uzoh finished with a season-best 49.04 to win the 400-meters, and cap off day one with 859 points.
On the women's side, Howell enjoyed a solid day in her first-career heptathlon competition, beginning with a finishing time of 14.66 in the 100-meter hurdles - the best time in the field. Couts and Dearborn followed in sixth and ninth place, clocking 15.82, and 16.91, respectively - season bests for both athletes.
Couts would take over the overall lead following the high jump, thanks to a personal-best clearance of 5-8.50 (1.74) - the best effort in the field by over three inches. Couts' performance is also the best by a Nittany Lion this year, and was worth a total of 903 points. Howell and Dearborn cleared 5-1.25 (1.56), and 4-9.75 (1.47), to earn fourth and ninth places within the event.
Dearborn led the Nittany Lion trio in the shot put with a mark of 34-9 (10.59) to finish second in the event, with Howell following in fifth at 31-2 (9.50), and Couts placing sixth with a toss of 29-4.50 (8.95). Howell closed out the with the top effort in the 200-meters, going 25.78, while Dearborn and Couts ran 26.72 and 27.16, respectively, placing sixth and eighth in the field.
Howell stands second overall with 2890 with four events in the books - just 30 points behind leader Kelly Curtis of Springfield College. Couts is currently ranked fourth 2799, while Dearborn's total of 2498 puts her in seventh place with three events remaining.
Action at Franklin Field continues on Wednesday morning, with the men's 110-meter hurdles beginning at 10:00 a.m., and the women's long jump following at 10:30 a.m. For more on Nittany Lion track and field, log on to www.GoPSUsports.com.