Jan. 12, 2012
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -
Final Time Schedule
Meet Program and Records
Hosting its second competition in as many weeks, the Penn State track and field squad are set to take on a quintet of teams from around the Northeast this weekend, hosting the Nittany Lion Challenge, Saturday at Ashenfelter III Indoor Track. The competition will feature squads from Albany, Cornell, Maryland, Pittsburgh, and West Virginia. The Nittany Lions are coming off an outstanding effort at the Penn State Relays last weekend, where the teams racked up 17 victories, and four new meet records.
About the Nittany Lion Challenge...
When: Saturday, January 14 (Start Time - 11:00 a.m.)
Where: Ashenfelter III Indoor Track
Results:
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Last weekend, the Nittany Lions tore through the competition across all event areas, including an outstanding effort from redshirt-sophomore Mahagony Jones (Cleveland, Ohio). Jones racked up a trio of victories, including a PR 23.68 for the 200 meters, which currently stands as the top mark in the NCAA. Jones was backed by a slew of stellar performances in the sprints, with redshirt-freshman Kirsten Nieuwendam (Parimaribo, Suriname) also dipping under the 24-second barrier in the 200 at 23.76 - the second-ranked mark in Division I for 2012. Jones, who was named Big Ten Athlete of the Week for her efforts, would also lead off the winning 4x400-meter relay, along with Nieuwendam, and teammates Dynasty McGee (Ypsilanti, Mich.), and Ijeoma Iheoma (Holland, Pa.). The squad combined to run a sizzling 3:36.91, which is the best effort in the country by nearly four seconds.
The Lions were equally as successful in the men's sprints, with redshirt-sophomore Aaron Nadolsky (Altoona, Pa.) picking up an individual victory in the 200, and coming back to add a 4x400 win with teammates Emunael Mpanduki (Harare, Zimbabwe), Matt Gilmore (Elkins Park, Pa.), and Brandon Bennett-Green (Elkins Park, Pa.).
Another Nittany Lion recognized for his weekend efforts was redshirt-junior Hanif Johnson (Harrisburg, Pa.). Johnson also took home an "Athlete of the Week" citation, via a winning performance in the triple jump. The junior's winning mark of 50-0.75 (15.26) currently stands third in the NCAA, and is the top jump in the Big Ten this season.
The Nittany Lions also enjoyed a sweep in the throwing events with Jane Swenson (Brandon, S.D.) and Melissa Kurzdorfer (Lancaster, N.Y.) winning the women's shot put and 20-lb weight throw, respectively, while Logan Caldwell (Ebensburg, Pa.) took the shot, and Will Barr (Urbana, Ohio) won the 35-lb weight on the men's side.
Many of the Nittany Lion middle distance and distance standouts will take to the track for the first time this season on Saturday, including All-American Casimir Loxsom (New Haven, Conn.). Loxsom, who placed fourth in the 800 meters at the NCAA Outdoor Championships last year, is currently slated to run the 600 meters. The junior currently holds the meet record in the event at 1:16.92 from 2010, which also stands as a World Junior Record. Also coming back to defend her own Nittany Lion Challenge record is senior Caitlin Lane (Greenwich, N.Y.), who blitzed to a meet and Penn State record in the 1000 meters at 2:45.95 last year. Lane has been on fire since the cross country season, coming off an individual victory at the Big Ten Championships, as well as a 16th-place and All-America finish at the NCAA Cross Country Championships.
The Nittany Lion Challenge will also mark the individual debuts of freshmen standouts Robby Creese (Mt. Airy, Md.), Ryan Brennan (Chester, N.Y.), Connor Manley (Jamison, Pa.) and Wade Endress (Altoona, Pa.). The rookie quartet clocked an NCAA leading time in the distance medley relay last weekend, running 9:49.04.
The Nittany Lion Challenge is set to begin at 11:00 a.m., on Saturday. For more on Penn State track and field, log on to www.GoPSUsports.com.