Sept. 2, 2011
Men's Results | Women's Results
LOCK HAVEN, Pa.: September 2, 2011 - Seniors Caitlin Lane (Greenwich, N.Y.) and Kyle Dawson (Coatesville, Pa.) both captured individual titles, leading the Nittany Lion cross country squads to a pair of one-through-five perfect scores at the annual Dolan Duals at the Lock Haven University. Both Nittany Lion captains also posted course records in the effort, with Lane breaking the tape at 13:26.52 over the 4,000-meter women's course, and Dawson running 17:36.40 to win the men's 6,000-meters. Lane also recorded her fourth-straight victory at Lock Haven, completing a four-year sweep at the Dolan Duals.
"Another successful Dolan Duel debut for the 2011 season," said Director and Head Coach of Cross Country/Track and Field Beth Alford-Sullivan. "Lock Haven and Aaron Russell were great hosts, as always, and it's exciting that we've been able to develop this competition into an annual event."
Lane, who broke her own course record - 13:54.90 - from 2009, was followed by sophomore Emily Giannotti (Coudersport, Pa.) in second, and junior Natalie Bower (Pleasant Unity, Pa.) in third. Giannotti and Bower clocked in 14:01.71, and 14:06.03, respectively - both dropping nearly 20 seconds off of their 2010 finishing time. Junior Brooklyne Ridder (Cincinnatti, Ohio) was the Nittany Lions' fourth finisher - and fourth overall - running 14:12.26, while freshman Abbie Benson (Iroquis, N.Y.) rounded out the scoring in fifth, thanks to an outstanding last 800-meters, finishing in 14:17.12.
Another pair of underclassman covered the Lions' six and seven spots, with freshman Katie Rodden (Ardmore, Pa.) and sophomore Bekka Simko (Mentor, Ohio) taking seventh and eighth, in 14:29.56 and 14:32.37. Simko also showed marked improvement from a year ago, bettering her finishing time by over 30 seconds.
After Dawson, sophomore Matt Fischer (Unionville, Pa.) dipped under the 18:00-minute barrier, going 17:58.69 for second in his first collegiate appearance. Seniors Chris Cipro (Harmony, Pa.) and Vince McNally (Paoli, Pa.) also bettered the previous course record on the afternoon, finishing in 18:01.02, and 18:04.15, respectively, for third and fourth. Dawson bettered the previous course best - 18:01.50 - set by former Nittany Lion Tyler McCandless in 2009.
Sophomore Nick Scarpello (Jamison, Pa.) completed the perfect score in fifth, finishing in 18:08.72. Scarpello improved significantly from last year, taking almost 30 seconds off his 2010 performance. Senior Owen Dawson (Coatesville, Pa.), and freshman Wade Endress (Altoona, Pa.) ran as the Lions' six and seven, placing seventh and ninth overall in 18:11.79, and 18:22.61.
"Both teams toook advantage of opening the season with a bang, setting two new course records and really making a statement that we are ready to achieve the goals we've set for ourselves," continued Sullivan. "It's early, but we're in great form. Now we just need to settle down, train intelligently and work our way into the month of October."
The Lions will take next weekend off before opening their 2011 slate with the Harry Groves Spiked Shoe Invitational on September 11. Competition will get underway at 10:00 a.m., at the Blue-White Golf Course.