March 30, 2013
PALO ALTO, Calif. - The Nittany Lion track and field squads enjoyed a successful season opener - with all seven competing athletes turning in lifetime bests - Friday evening at the Stanford Invitational. The Nittany Lions took advantage of the ideal weather conditions in Palo Alto, posting outstanding performances in the distance events.
Redshirt-sophomore Matt Fischer (Kennett Square, Pa.) paced the Nittany Lions on the men's side, clocking a lifetime-low 14:01.23 for the 5000 meters - good for a 10th-place finish in his section. Running tough down the stretch, Fischer, who improved upon his previous outdoor PR of 14:11.47, was also the top Big Ten finisher in his heat.
Also turning in 5K personal bests were senior Tyler Corkedale (West Windsor, N.J.), and junior Nick Scarpello (Jamison, Pa.). Corkedale, who finished 15th in his heat, shaved 15 seconds off his previous lifetime low by finishing in 14:20.06. Scarpello also ran strong finishing in 14:23.08, which was good for a seventh-place standing in his section.
The Nittany Lions were equally as successful in 5000 on the women's side, picking up personal bests from both senior Natalie Bower (Pleasant Unity, Pa.) and freshman Tori Gerlach (Perkasie, Pa.). Bower zipped to an eighth-place finish in her section, thanks to a career-best 16:12.88. Bower now owns the No. 7 spot on the Nittany Lions' all-time top 10 list in the event. Gerlach was also on top of her game, going 16:28.51 for 16th in her race. Gerlach's performance, which was her first collegiate attempt at the distance, was a huge improvement on her previous best, as the freshman bettered her high school PR by over 30 seconds.
Also taking on a new event was junior Emily Giannotti (Coudersport), who turned in an impressive performance in his first-career appearance in the 10,000-meters. The junior would clock 34:54.26 in the effort, taking over the No. 10 slot in the Penn State record books.
Sophomore Abbie Benson (Elma, N.Y.) improved her lifetime best in the 3,000-meter steeplechase to 10:33.30, which yielded a 14th-place standing in her section. Benson also improves her place in the Nittany Lion record books, moving to No. 9, all time.
The Nittany Lions will be back in action next weekend, traveling to Tuscaloosa, Ala., for the Crimson Tide Invitational on April 6.
For more on Nittany Lion Track and Field, log on to www.GoPSUsports.com.