May 7, 2011
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa.: May 7, 2011 - Highlighted by nearly 20 events victories, the Nittany Lion track and field squads enjoyed outstanding success on Saturday, hosting the Jim Thorpe Open at Nittany Lion Track. Leading a host of notable performances was sophomore Sean Reilly (Lagrangeville, N.Y.), who cleared a career-best 7-0.25 (2.14) to win the men's high jump. Penn State produced several lifetime-best marks in the field events, including junior Doug Moppert (Malvern, Pa.), who recorded a leap of 25-0 (7.62) to win the men's long jump. Both Nittany Lion performances rank third in the Big Ten this season.
"The Jim Thorpe proved to be an exciting day for the Nittany Lions," said Director and Head Coach of Track and Field Beth Alford-Sullivan following the meet. "We had everything from high winds, to rain, to sunny, perfect conditions over the course of the day, but we were able to see a lot of outstanding performances from all event areas as we tune up for the Big Ten Championships."
Also turning in field-event victories were sophomore Erika Morgan (Chesapeake, Va.), juniors Amanda Palenchar (Bradenville, Pa.) and Jocelyn Witmer (Lancaster, Pa.), senior Bianca Fung (North Babylon, N.Y.), and freshman Marlene Ricketts (Westbury, N.Y.) on the women's side, as well as junior Hanif Johnson (Harrisburg, Pa.) and redshirt-freshman Will Barr (Urbana, Ohio) in the men's standings.
Morgan was the winner in the women's high jump, topping out at a collegiate PR 5-8.50 (1.74), while Palenchar also turned in a career-outdoor best, taking the pole vault with a leap of 12-3.50 (3.75). Witmer would also vault over 12-3.50 (3.75), tying her teammate - as well as her own season best - for the victory. Fung and Ricketts would sweep the women's horizontal jumps, with Fung besting the long jump field with an effort of 19-10.25 (6.05), and Ricketts taking the triple jump with a leap of 40-5 (12.32) - a personal-collegiate best.
Moppert and Johnson would dominate the horizontals on the men's side, with Johnson winning the triple jump with an effort of 51-10.50 (15.81). However, Johnson's performance will not count for NCAA-qualifying purposes, as it exceeded the legal-wind limit for qualifying (4.0 meters per second) at 4.2 m/s. Barr was the lone victor in throws, finishing first in the discus with a toss of 177-11 (54.22). Also turning in a season best in the field events was freshman Jon Hendershot (Nazareth, Pa.), who topped out at 6-09.75 (2.08), finishing second behind his teammate.
The Nittany Lions dominated the track events, posting event victories in the 100-, 200-, 800-, and 1500-meters, as well as the 100- and 400-meter hurdles on the women's side, and recording winning efforts in the 200, 1500, and 400 hurdles in the men's results. Senior Shavon Greaves (Lakewood, N.Y.), junior Ije Iheoma (Holland, Pa.), and redshirt-freshman Aaron Nadolsky (Altoona, Pa.) recorded victories in the sprints, with Greaves finishing first in the 100 and Iheoma and Nadolsky each taking home 200-meter victories. Iheoma would also record a season-best 24.23 in the effort.
Sophomore Evonne Britton (El Paso, Texas) and senior Megan Duncan (North Huntingdon, Pa.) covered the hurdling events for the Nittany Lions, with Britton taking the 100 hurdles in 13.82, and Duncan winning the 400 hurdles in 58.42. Freshman Mark Filandro (Oakland, N.J.) was the winner in the men's 400 hurdles, thanks to a finishing time of 55.32.
Senior Maura Ryan (Doylestown, Pa.) highlighted the middle distances, running to a personal-best 2:07.85 to win the 800, and record the fifth-fastest time in the Big Ten this season. Freshman Bekka Simko (Mentor, Ohio) followed up in second with a finishing time of 2:08.55 - the eighth-fastest time in the conference this spring. In the men's race, senior Owen Dawson (Coatesville, Pa.) - competing unattached - turned in a victory in 1:48.49, with senior Ryan Foster (Tasmania, Australia) taking second in 1:49.07.
Penn State would also enjoy dual victories in the 1500, with senior Paige Anderson (Carlisle, Pa.) posting a 4:49.71-victory in the women's race, and redshirt-sophomore Connor Revord (Tampa, Fla.) recording his first-collegiate victory in 3:52.11. Sophomore Danny Pawola (Naperville, Ill.) closed out the distance wins, finishing first in the 3,000-meters.
"It was certainly exciting to honor our seniors and see them perform in their final home competition in a Nittany Lion uniform," concluded Sullivan. "We look forward to the trip to Iowa City next weekend, as seeing what we can do on the conference level."
The Nittany Lions are now on to post-season action, heading into the Big Ten Outdoor Championships in Iowa City, Iowa. The Championships are set for Friday - Saturday, May 13-15.
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