April 10, 2014
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - The Nittany Lion track and field team will split its squads again this weekend, sending a large contingent to the Sun Angel Classic at Arizona State University in Tempe, Ariz., while a small contingent of Nittany Lions will stay close to home, competing at the Bison Outdoor Classic in Lewisburg, Pa. Action at the Sun Angel Classic gets underway on Friday afternoon and concludes on Saturday, while the Bucknell competition is set to get started on Saturday afternoon and ends Sunday.
Some of the Lions' top sprinters will represent the blue and white out West, including sophomore Kiah Seymour (Washington, D.C.) in the 400-meter hurdles and senior Mahagony Jones (Cleveland, Ohio) in the 100-meter dash. Seymour ran an impressive time of 57.12 last weekend at the Crimson Tide invite and is currently ranked fourth in the country. Jones ran the 100-meter dash last weekend in a time of 11.49, finishing second to indoor 60-meter champion Remona Burchell.
On the men's side, senior Bernard Bennett-Green (Elkins Park, Pa.) and freshman Byron Robinson (Chesapeake, Va.) will compete in the 400-meter dash against indoor national champion Deon Lendore of Texas A&M.
The Nittany Lions will also be represented well in the field events with a strong contingent of javelin throwers continuing to boost the Nittany Lion outdoor line-up. Freshmen Michael Shuey (Johnsonburg, Pa.) and Cole Proffitt (Manheim, Pa.) will represent in the men's premiere division of the javelin. Shuey currently ranks second all-time in the Penn State record books with his throw of 238-6 last weekend. All-Americans Laura Loht (McClure, Pa.) and Lauren Kenney (State College, Pa.) will be joined by junior Mel Leszcynski (Audobon, Pa.) in the women's premiere division. The women's contingent will look to continue on their fine showing at last weekend's Crimson Tide Invitational where they claimed two of the top three places.
The Nittany Lions will send a group of middle distance and longer distance athletes to the Bison Outdoor Classic. Sophomores Za'Von Watkins (Liverpool, N.Y.) and Brannon Kidder (Lancaster, Ohio.) highlight the men's 1500 meters field after running well in the 800 meters last weekend. Kidder and Watkins are ranked number one and two in the Big Ten in the 800 after posting solid marks of 1:48.53 and 1:48.94.
On the women's side, senior Marta Klebe (Chesterbrook, Pa.) looks to open up well in the 1500 meter run after placing second at Big Ten's last year. Klebe was also a NCAA Eastern Preliminary Round qualifier last year.
About the Sun Angel Classic...
When: Friday-Saturday, April 11-12
Where: Sun Angel Stadium (Tempe, Ariz.)
Meet Information: www.thesundevils.com
About the Bison Outdoor Classic...
When: Saturday-Sunday, April 12-13
Where: Christy Mathewson Memorial Stadium (Lewisburg, Pa.)
Meet Information/Live Results: www.bucknellbison.com