May 23, 2013
GREENSBORO, N.C -
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Junior Melissa Kurzdorfer (Lancaster, N.Y.) punched her ticket to the NCAA Championships, thanks to a 12th-place effort in the discus, Thursday at the NCAA Eastern Preliminary Round at Irwin Bell Track on the campus of North Carolina A&T. The Nittany Lions enjoyed a sensational day in qualifying overall, including all five members of the Penn State 800-meter contingent advancing to the quarterfinal round.
"Good first day for the Nittany Lions," said Director and Head Coach of Track and Field/Cross Country Beth Alford-Sullivan. "I'm excited to see Melissa punch her ticket to the NCAA Final.
We advanced well, were very competitive and are in a good spot moving on to day two."
Kurzdorfer, who is also set to compete in the hammer throw on Friday, captured the 12th and final qualifying spot in the discus, turning in a toss of 163-2 (49.63). Kurzdorfer made the cut for the 16-women final via a toss of 162-9 (49.63), and held on to her top 12 standing by improving to 163-2 (49.63) on her first attempt of the final round. The junior will be the first Nittany Lion to qualify for the NCAA Championships in the event on the women's side since Emma Schmelzer advanced in 2008.
The Nittany Lions posted a 100% success rate in the 800, with seniors Casimir Loxsom (New Haven, Conn.) and Ricky West (Toronto, Ontario), sophomore Ryan Brennan (Chester, N.Y.), and freshmen Brannon Kidder (Lancaster, N.Y.), and Za'Von Watkins (Liverpool, N.Y.) each earning qualifying bids on to Friday's quarterfinals. Loxsom led the way, clocking 1:48.50 - the fastest time of the day - to win his preliminary heat, and better his section competitors by nearly a full second. Kidder was also a heat winner, taking his section in 1:50.80. Both Brennan and Watkins also ran to automatic advancing positions, with Brennan going 1:51.17 to take third in his section, and Watkins running 1:49.92, also placing third in his heat. West advanced on time, turning in a finishing mark of 1:49.66 - the fastest among the six time qualifers.
Also picking up a heat win on the afternoon was sophomore Robby Creese (Mount Airy, Md.), who clocked 3:49.43 to take top honors in his section and move on to the quarterfinal round. Senior Tyler Corkedale (West Windsor, N.J.) will also represent the Nittany Lions in Saturday's 1500 final after clocking 3:48.31 to capture the fifth and final qualifying spot in his preliminary race.
Redshirt-junior Mahagony Jones (Cleveland, Ohio) was the top finisher on the women's side, zipping to a heat win in the women's 100 meters. Jones blitzed to a wind-legal 11.33 (2.0) in her section to win her heat and take over the No. 3 slot on the Nittany Lions' all-time top 10 list.
Freshman Kiah Seymour (Washington, D.C.) also shined in the sprints, taking second in her prelim of the 400-meter hurdles. Seymour, who will race again in Friday's quarterfinal, clocked a lifetime-best 58.22 - the sixth-fastest performance in the Penn State record books.
Coming up just shy of an advancing position was junior Marta Klebe (Chesterbrook, Pa.), who placed 26th overall in the women's 1500 - just two spots she of advancement. Klebe would post a PR in the effort, going 4:21.37.
Action at the NCAA Eastern Preliminary Round continues on Friday and concludes on Saturday evening. For more on Nittany Lion Track and Field, log on to www.GoPSUsports.com