Jan. 11, 2014
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -
Although team score was not kept at the Penn State Relays, there's no doubt the Nittany Lions won the day. "We often open up well, but this is the best we've ever opened up," said Director and Head Track & Field Coach Beth Alford-Sullivan. "Across the board from running, throwing and jumping we were very sharp."
In what was the highlight of the day, the women's 4x200 relay ran a blistering 1:35.65, setting a new meet, facility, Penn State and collegiate record and besting second-place Pittsburgh by almost three seconds. The record-setting team, comprised of redshirt-senior Mahagony Jones (Cleveland, Ohio), Dynasty McGee (Flint, Mich.), freshman Megan Osborne (Chillicothe, Ohio) and sophomore Kiah Seymour (Washington, D.C.), paced a very good day on the women's side with the record-breaking relay win.
In addition to the relay victory, Jones also took the 60 meter dash (7.41) and McGee won the 200 meters in a time of 24.29, a new best for the junior.
In an eventful first day for the teams, redshirt-senior Evonne Britton (El Paso, Texas) set a new meet record in the 60 meter hurdles with an 8.27. Junior Shelley Black (Wilkes-Barre, Pa.) and Brittany Howell (Wyncote, Pa.) finished third and fourth in the event.
After an outstanding 4x200 meter relay, Osborne, Seymour, joined Black and freshman Tichina Rhodes (Philadelphia, Pa.) for a win in the 4x400 relay, outpacing closest-competitor Pittsburgh by more than two seconds. Rhodes was back again in the Distance Medley Relay were she paired with senior Marta Klebe (Chesterbrook, Pa.), sophomore Sarah Jane Underwood (Alexandria, Va.) and junior Abbie Benson (Elme, N.Y.) for the win in 11:44.84.
Shelley Black |
In a thriller on the track on the men's side, twin brothers Bernard (Elkins Park, Pa.) and Brandon (Philadelphia, Pa.) Bennett-Green brought it down to the wire in the 500 meter dash with Bernard narrowly edging his brother, Brandon, with a time of 1:03.01. Brandon finished a shade behind with a time of 1:03.02. The senior duo's battle was part of a 1-2-3-4 finish for the Nittany Lions in the event. In addition to the Bennett-Green brothers going 1-2, freshman Bryon Robinson (Chesapeake, Va.) and sophomore Alex Shisler (State College, Pa.) finished in third and fourth place to cement Penn State's dominance at that distance.
The Bennett-Green brothers were also part of an impressive run in the 4x400 relay. Joining forces with Shisler and sophomore Za'Von Watkins (Liverpool, N.Y.), Penn State posted a time of 3:11.58, more than six seconds faster then second-place Pittsburgh.
Senior Sancho Barrett (Amityville, N.Y.) took the 60 hurdles in a time of 7.96 in another highlight on the men's side.
With junior Robby Creese (Mount Airy, Md.) and sophomore Brannon Kidder (Lancaster, Ohio) running in both, Penn State tasted victory in the 4x800 relay as well as the Distance Medley Relay. Creese and Kidder were joined by freshman Brad Rivera (Bensalem, Pa.) and redshirt-sophomore Tom Damiani (Tunkhannock, Pa.) for the win in the 4x800 relay. Creese, Kidder, Watkins and redshirt-junior Ryan Brennan (Chester, N.Y.) won the Distance Medley Relay with a time of 7:36.59.
Penn State dominated the field events, with Nittany Lions at the top of the list in the both the men's and women's pole vault and the men's and women's weight throw. Freshman Lexi Masternson (Jeannette, Pa.) started the season with a first-place mark of 12-05.50, while on the men's side junior Dylan Bilka (Seven Fields, Pa.) cleared 16-00.75 for the victory.
In the weight throw on the women's side, sophomore Rachel Fatherly (Williamsport, Pa.) had a heave of 59-00.75, which was good enough for first place, beating Chioma Onyekwere from Maryland by almost two feet. Fatherly also finished second in the shot put with a throw of 47-05.00.
The Penn State's women went 1-2- in the long jump with junior Brittney Howell (Wyncote, Pa.) measuring 19-00.50 and freshman Dannielle Gibson (Nassau, Bahamas) grabbing second with a jump of 17-04.75. The women's triple jump was claimed by Penn State as well, with Thea LaFond notching a 42-02.00 to grab the win.
Freshman Robert Cardina (Lancaster, Pa.) edged teammate Brian Leap (Bellwood, Pa.) in the long jump. Cardina posted a 23-02.00 with Leap coming in at 23-01.25. The triple jump belonged to PSU junior Steve Waithe (Parkville, Md.) with a jump of 52-02.50.
Junior Darrell Hill (Philadelphia, Pa.) rounded out the winners for Penn State on the day, winning the shot put with a throw of 56-04.00
Penn State continues its indoor schedule on Saturday, Jan. 18 for the Nittany Lion Challenge. All indoor meets are held at the Multi-Sport Building near the corner of University Drive and Dauer Drive on campus. Admission is free.