June 11, 2011
Final Stats | Photo Gallery | 2011 Results
DES MOINES, Iowa: June 11, 2011 - For the fourth time in as many years, the Nittany Lion women's 4x400-meter relay posted a top four effort at the NCAA Outdoor Championships, turning in a fourth-place standing, Saturday at Drake Stadium. The quartet of Doris Anyanwu (Beltsville, Md.), Shavon Greaves (Lakewood, N.J.), Ije Iheoma (Holland, Pa.), and Megan Duncan (North Huntingdon, Pa.) earned All-America status in the finish, thanks to a season-best run of 3:30.35. On the men's side, the Penn State contingent combined to score the highest finish in the team standings since 1993, tying for 20th-place overall with 11 points.
Thanks to sub-53 second splits across the board, the Nittany Lions clocked the third-fastest time in school history, trailing only efforts of 3:27.69 from 2008 (Blake, Barber, Hunter, Cox), and 3:30.34 from 2009 (Barber, Greaves, Hunter, Dorr). Anyanwu blitzed to a unofficial 52.8 split on the leadoff, handing off to Greaves on the second carry. Greaves would keep the Lions in within striking distance of the leaders, splitting 52.2. Iheoma covered the third carry, going 52.57 - according to FlashResults.com - to hand off to Duncan in the thick of a top-five finish. Duncan brought the stick home in an official split of 52.26, nosing Florida (3:30.43) on the homestretch.
Statistically speaking, the Nittany Lions are the only program to rack up top four finishes in the 4x400 in the last four years, having begun the streak with an NCAA victory in 2008. Since then, the Nittany Lions have placed fourth in 2009, 2010, and 2011. Louisiana State recorded top four efforts in 2008, 2009, and 2010, but failed to qualify for the final this season.
In his first-career NCAA appearance, Johnson racked up a pair of attempts over 51-feet, including his best jump of the day - 51-6.25 (15.70). Johnson opened up with a leap of 51-5 (15.67), and closed out competition with an effort of 50-8.75 (15.46). Johnson was consistent throughout the competition, with all three of his attempts coming within inches of his personal-best 51-8.50 (15.76).
With the effort, Johnson will earn his first Second Team All-America citation. The junior also held his own against conference and regional competitors, finishing second among Big Ten athletes, and seventh compared to jumpers from the NCAA East Region.
Throughout the weekend, the Nittany Lions have compiled a total of six Second Team All-America efforts - which includes ninth through 16th places individually - with senior Blake Eaton (Allegany, N.Y.) placing ninth in the shot put, and classmate Samuel Borchers (Yellow Springs, Ohio) taking ninth in the 800-meters on the men's side. In the women's standings, sophomore Evonne Britton (El Paso, Texas) earned a ninth-place finish in the 100-meter hurdles, and senior Megan Duncan (North Huntingdon, Pa.) placed 15th in the 400-meter hurdles on the track, while javelin competitors senior Karlee McQuillen (Johnstown, Pa.), and freshman Laura Loht (McClure, Pa.) finished 10th and 15th, respectively, to represent the Nittany Lions in the field.
The NCAA Outdoor Championships officially complete the collegiate outdoor season, but the Nittany Lions will move on to compete at the USATF Junior and Senior Championships, slated for June 23-26, at historic Hayward Field, on the campus of the University of Oregon.
More to come ...