Feb. 14, 2014
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Results from the SPIRE D-I Invitational | Results from the Washington Husky Classic
The Nittany Lion track & field team hit the road Friday for the first time in the indoor season with student-athletes competing in Ohio as well as across the country in Seattle.
Action at the SPIRE D-I Invitational started the day for Penn State's teams Friday. Freshman Rob Cardina (Lancaster, Pa.) broke several personal bests en route to the lead in the men's heptathlon after day one of competition. Cardina tallied 3,182 points after personal bests in two of four heptathlon events on Friday. He started the day with a personal record 7.08 seconds in the heptathlon 60 meters, and also logged a personal best in the shot put with a throw of 43-3.25. Cardina ended his day by taking the high jump with a jump of 6-8 (2.03 meters).
Redshirt-senior Will Barr (Urbana, Ohio) recorded a 68-3.75, which was good for second in the men's weight throw.
In the women's weight throw, senior Melissa Kurzdorfer (Lancaster, Pa.) and sophomore Rachel Fatherly (Williamsport, Pa.) went 1-2 for the Nittany Lions. Kurzdorfer topped the field with a 64-6.5 (19.67 meters), while Fatherly threw for 62-8 (19.10 meters).
Freshman Byron Robinson (Chesapeake, Va.) narrowly missed the top spot in the 200 meter dash (unseeded) with a time of 21.42 seconds to the winning time of 21.36, which was run by Brycen Spratling of Pittsburgh. Teammates Alex Kenney and Bernard Bennett-Green placed fifth and sixth, respectively in the event.
Sophomore Za.Von Watkins (Liverpool, N.Y.) finished fourth in the men's 600-meter run with a time of 1:19.41
At the Washington Husky Classic, junior Leigha Anderson (Carlisle, Pa.) ran a new PR of 16:32.74 in the Women's Invitational 5,000 meters to finish 18th. On the men's side in the Men's Invitational 5,000 meters, junior Matt Fischer (Kennett Square, Pa.) was 22nd with a time of 14:17.48.
Action continues Saturday with the split squads entering the second day of competition at the SPIRE D-I Invitational (Geneva, Ohio) and the Washington Husky Classic (Seattle, Wash.).