April 29, 2011
PHILADELPHIA, Pa. - Bolstered by event wins by both senior Karlee McQuillen (Johnstown, Pa.) and junior Jane Swenson (Brandon, S.D.), the Nittany Lion track and field squad enjoyed a successful opening day at the historic Penn Relays Carnival at Franklin Field. McQuillen claimed her second-straight victory in the "championship" women's javelin, while Swenson took the "Eastern" section of the women's shot put, setting an event record on the way.
McQuillen recorded a toss of 158-4 (48.28) to earn top honors, with freshman Laura Loht (McClure, Pa.) following in third-place overall with a throw of 144-9 (44.12). The victory was the third Penn Relays title for the senior, who now has two collegiate wins, and one high school victory to her credit.
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Bettering her previous best by over four feet, Swenson launched an impressive 52-6 (16.00) on her final effort in the shot put, earning the victory and besting the previous section record by over three feet. The junior's effort also moves her up the Penn State ranks, as the mark stands fourth on the Nittany Lion top 10 list in the event. Also faring well in the throws was freshman Taylor McNally (Ennis, Mt.), who recorded a PR 157-6 (48.02) to place fifth in the women's "college" discus. McNally's performance rates sixth in the Nittany Lion record books.
On the track, the women's 4x400-meter contingent of Doris Anyanwu (Beltsville, Md.), Shavon Greaves (Lakewood, N.J.), Ije Iheoma (Holland, Pa.), and Megan Duncan (North Huntingdon, Pa.) recorded the fourth-fastest performance in qualifying at 3:38.06. The effort is good for a spot in the Championship of America section of the event, set for Saturday afternoon. Duncan also posted a solid effort individually, placing third overall in the 400-meter hurdles, running 59.07 in a heat victory.
In the distances, the women's 3,000-meter steeplechase trio of Natalie Bower (Pleasant Unity, Pa.), Lindsey Graybill (Macungie, Pa.) and Emily Giannotti (Coudersport, Pa.) all managed to post PR efforts with Bower leading the way with a fourth-place finish in 10:18.48 -- the fourth-fastest mark on the PSU top 10 list. Graybill and Giannotti finished 10th and 13th, respectively, crossing the finish line in 10:34.28 and 10:40.77. Junior Vince McNally (Paoli, Pa.) was the top finisher in the men's distance races, turning in a 15th-place effort in the 5,000-meters, finishing in 14:19.95.
Posting a pair of top-five efforts was senior Bianca Fung (North Babylon, N.Y.), who placed fourth in the Eastern section of both the high jump and the long jump. Fung matched her own season best in the high jump, clearing 5-7.75 (1.72), and backed it up with a leap of 19-8. (5.99) in the long jump. Teammate Erika Morgan (Chesapeake, Va.) would tie for fifth in the high jump, also topping out at 5-7.75 (1.72).
Action at Franklin Field continues on Friday, beginning with the men's 400-meter hurdles at 9:00 a.m.