April 15, 2012
LEWISBURG, Pa.: April 15, 2012 - Sophomore Rebekka Simko (Mentor, Ohio) and freshman Robby Creese (Mount Airy, Md.) set facility records en route to matching victories in the 1500 meters at the Bison Outdoor Classic at Christy Mathewson Memorial Stadium. Also turning in an event win was senior Joe Kovacs (Nazareth, Pa.), who led a one-two Nittany Lion sweep in the men's discus, along with teammate Will Barr (Urbana, Ohio).
The Nittany Lions would also enjoy dual gold medals in the long jump, with seniors Tanaya Lloyd (Philadelphia, Pa.) and Doug Moppert (Malvern, Pa.) taking the women's and men's events, respectively. Natalie Bower (Pleasant Unity, Pa.) added another victory in the 3,000-meter steeplechase, leading a one-through-four sweep by the Nittany Lions.
Simko turned on a stellar kick in the closing meters of the women's 1500, running down New Balance's Kerri Gallagher - the eventual second-place finisher - to break the tape in a personal-best and stadium-record 4:20.11. Simko's performance ranks sixth in school history, and stands as the second-fastest mark in the Big Ten this season. A trio of Nittany Lions fared well in the race, as Kara Millhouse (Boiling Springs, Pa.) placed fourth in a career-best 4:23.54, while Marta Klebe (Chesterbrook, Pa.) turned in a seventh-place effort in 4:27.88 - also a lifetime low.
Creese was the individual victor on the men's side, finishing in a facility record and lifetime-best 3:43.79 to better the field by nearly three seconds. The rookie's effort is also the best in the Big Ten this season, as well as a top 10 performance in the NCAA East Region.
Also turning in a stellar performance on the track was senior Chris Cipro (Harmony, Pa.), who clocked a personal-best 29:53.07 for 10,000-meters. Cipro, who placed fifth in an outstanding field, improved his previous career best by well over a minute.
Bower clocked 10:25.46 in a wire-to-wire victory in the steeple, followed by teammates Lindsey Graybill (Macungie, Pa.), Emily Giannotti (Coudersport, Pa.), and Abbie Benson (Elma, N.Y.). Graybill finished in 10:30.80, while Giannotti and Benson turned in PRs at 10:39.72 and 10:44.60, respectively.
The Nittany Lions turned in a trio of victories in the field, with Kovacs tossing a season-best 176-9 (53.88) in the win the discus, and Barr going 174-8 (53.23) for second - season bests for both athletes. Sophomore Melissa Kurzdorfer (Lancaster, Pa.) was the top finisher in the women's discus, placing second overall with an effort of 154-11 (47.23).
Lloyd squeaked out a victory in the long jump, thanks to a personal-best 19-0.75 (5.81) to take the event title by just a quarter of an inch over the second-place competitor. Moppert added a win in the men's long jump, posting a season-best leap of 24-0.25 (7.32).
Action in Lewisburg continues through Sunday afternoon. For live updates on the action, follow the Nittany Lions on Twitter @PennStTXC.