Jan. 25, 2013
Final Stats | Men's Results | Women's Results | Will Barr Interview | Coach Beth Alford-Sullivan Interview
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa.: January 25, 2013 - The men's 4x200-meter contingent of Emunael Mpanduki (Harare, Zimbabwe), Matt Gilmore (Philadelphia, Pa.), Brandon Bennett-Green (Philadelphia, Pa.), and Aaron Nadolsky (Altoona, Pa.) kicked off the two-day Penn State National in record-setting fashion, setting a new collegiate record in the event on Friday evening. The 4x200 weren't the only Nittany Lions to get their names in the record books, as junior Will Barr (Urbana, Ohio) set a new Penn State best in the men's weight throw.
The foursome blitzed to an all-time collegiate-best 1:24.70 - bettering Rutgers' 1:25.05 from 2007. The same quartet broke their own school record of 1:25.52, which was set earlier this month.
Barr was also on a tear ending up with a day's best toss of 67-3.50 (20.51), bettering Dorian Lowe's previous school record - 66-5.75 (20.26) - on three of his six attempts. Barr's throw is also the second farthest in the NCAA this year.
The Nittany Lion sprints and hurdles contingent stood out throughout the evening, including a lifetime-best 7.38 for junior Mahagony Jones (Cleveland, Ohio), who placed third overall in the women's 60 meters. Jones now stand third all-time in the Penn State records books in the event, and also currently sits among the top 10 performances in the NCAA in 2013. Also turning in an impressive lifetime-low was sophomore Sancho Barrett (Amityville, N.Y.), who dipped under the eight-second barrier in the 60-meter hurdles, going 7.99.
The Lions also enjoyed several individual victories on the day, including junior Brittney Howell (Wyncote, Pa.), who totaled 3851 - just off her career-best score - to take the event title in the women's pentathlon. Junior Emily Giannotti (Coudersport, Pa.) would pick up a victory in the distances, clocking 16:44.65 to better the rest of the women's 5,000 meters at over 30 seconds.
Action at Ashenfelter III Indoor Track continues at 9:30 a.m., on Saturday morning, beginning with the men's heptathlon 60-meter hurdles. The event continues throughout the day including the elite "invitational" section at 3:00 p.m. The "invitational" portion of the program is set to include some of the Nittany Lions' top athletes, as well as some of the outstanding professionals from around the country.