May 27, 2011
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BLOOMINGTON, Ind.: May 27, 2011 -Senior Karlee McQuillen (Johnstown, Pa.) and freshman Laura Loht (McClure, Pa.) both earned bids to the NCAA Outdoor Championships in the javelin, while junior Ije Iheoma (Holland, Pa.) advanced in the 400-meters, and senior Megan Duncan (North Huntindon, Pa.), and sophomore Evonne Britton (El Paso, Texas) moved on in the 400-meter hurdles, Friday at the NCAA Eastern Preliminary Round at Bill Hayes Track, on the campus of Indiana University. On the men's side, sophomore Casimir Loxsom (New Haven, Conn.), and Samuel Borchers (Yellow Springs, Ohio) will extend their seasons on to the national meet, both earning spots in the 800-meters. Also turning earning a bid in the final event of the evening, junior Hanif Johnson (Harrisburg, Pa.) launched a qualifying leap on his final attempt in the triple jump, to make his first-career trip to the NCAA Championships.
McQuillen, who will be making her fourth-straight appearance at the national outdoor meet, launched a season-best 172-2 (52.48) on her first attempt in the javelin, and never looked back in winning the competition by well over 10 feet. McQuillen's effort is the seventh-farthest throw in Division I this year. The senior will travel to Des Moines in search of her fourth-straight All-America effort, after scoring a bronze-medal standing a year ago. Entering the competition's final three throws in 11th place, Loht left little room for doubt turning in a lifetime-best toss of 161-3 (49.14) - the sixth-best effort in the Penn State record books - moving up to second-place overall, where she would remain through the end of the contest.
Iheoma also cleanly advanced to the NCAA Finals, turning in a personal-collegiate best 53.50 in the 400, shaving a full half a second off of her previous season low. Iheoma would power down the homestretch to finish third in her quarterfinal heat, earning an automatic-advancing position to Des Moines. An All-American on the Nittany Lion 4x400-meter relay this past indoor season, the trip to nationals will mark Iheoma's first-career appearance in an individual event at the NCAA Championships.
Also moving on in the sprints will be Britton and Duncan, who will both be making their second-straight national showing in the 400 hurdles. Britton advanced automatically, sprinting to a second-place finish in her quarterfinal heat, thanks to an effort of 57.51. Duncan would rely on an outstanding finishing time for advancement, running 57.82 to earn one of the three time-qualifying positions. Britton was on fire all afternoon, starting the day with a lifetime-best 13.13 to win her preliminary heat of the 100-meter hurdles. Britton will vie to become a two-event qualifier, competing in the quarterfinal of the 100 hurdles, Saturday at 7:05 p.m.
The Nittany Lions would see another duo advance in the men's 800, led by Loxsom, who won his quarterfinal heat in 1:48.48 - the second-fastest time of the afternoon. Just a sophomore, Loxsom is on an impressive streak for his early career, qualifying for the NCAA Championships in the event on four out of four opportunities. Borchers will make his first-career trip to the NCAA Championships as an individual by turning in a third-place finish in the same heat, crossing in a personal-outdoor best 1:48.80.
Johnson popped a leap of 51-04.50 (15.66) to snag one of the 12 advancing positions in the triple jump. In 13th place going into his sixth and final attempt, Johnson launched his best attempt of the day, and the seventh-best effort among East Region qualifiers on the evening.
Another quintet of Nittany Lions competed at the First Round competition, but came up just short of qualifying positions including Erika Morgan (Chesapeake, Va.) and Kelsey Couts (Powell, Ohio) in the women's high jump, Tanaya Lloyd (Philadelphia, Pa.) in the women's triple jump, Jane Swenson (Brandon, S.D.) in the women's shot put, and Kaitchen Dearborn (New Milford, Pa.) in the women's javelin.
Coming up just short of NCAA tickets were sophomores Natalie Bower (Pleasant Unity, Pa.) and Lindsey Graybill (Macungie, Pa.), who both turned in banner efforts in the 3,000-meter steeplechase. Bower would place 14th overall - just over second outside of the top 12 - running within a half second of her PR with a finishing time of 10:18.99. Graybill crossed in a career-best 10:30.47 - the seventh-fastest effort in Penn State history - for 24th overall.