May 9, 2014
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Penn State dominated the day at the Jim Thorpe Invitational, marking the team's last competition before the Big Ten Championships on May 14-16 at Purdue. Several seniors rounded-out their home careers in style, including throwers Melissa Kurzdorfer (Lancaster, N.Y.), Laura Loht (McClure, Pa.) and Will Barr (Urbana, Ohio), who were all winners.
Freshman Lexi Masterson (Jeannette, Pa.) was another highlight on the day, clearing 12-11.75 in the pole vault, No. 2 all-time at Penn State.
Kurzdorfer was a double winner, taking the top spot in the discus (164-03) and hammer throw (204-07). Loht took the javelin with a throw of 167-5. Sophomore Rachel Fatherly (Williamsport, Pa.) used a PR of 52-8 to win the shot put. Her mark is fourth all-time at Penn State. Teammate Alyssa Robinson (Saint Clairsville, Ohio) also posted a PR, a 49-11.25, which is ninth in Penn State history.
Penn State swept the jumps on the women's side with a PR of 5-10 for India McCoy (Ambridge, Pa.) in the high jump, which is ninth all-time at Penn State. Senior Marlene Ricketts (Old Westbury, N.Y.) recorded a jump of 42-2.75 to take the triple jump. Sophomore Kaitlin Lopez (Buffalo, N.Y.) jumped a 19-1.25 to win the long jump.
Barr finished his home career by winning the hammer throw with a 205-7. Barr also took the discus with a mark of 169-00. Freshman Michael Shuey (Johnsonburg, Pa.) continued to perform well in the javelin, taking first with a throw of 235-1. Coming off some great performances in the past few weeks, Darrell Hill (Philadelphia, Pa.) won the men's shot put with a throw of 63-3.5.
Senior Jon Hendershot (Nazareth, Pa.) cleared 7-1.75 in the high jump for a victory in his last home meet. Junior Steve Waithe (Parkville, Md.) captured the triple jump with a 51-7.75. Junior Dylan Bilka (Seven Fields, Pa.) won the men's pole vault with a clearance of 15-11.5.
On the track on the women's side, senior Mahagony Jones (Cleveland, Ohio) finished first in the 100-meter dash in 11.41 while Shelley Black (Wilkes-Barre, Pa.) took the 100 hurdles in 13.99. Freshman Julie Kocjancic (Pittsburgh, Pa.) took the 1500 meters in 4:45.59. Penn State's Dannielle Gibson (Nassau, Bahamas), Jones, Dynasty McGee (Flint, Mich.) and Kiah Seymour (Washington, D.C.) crossed the line in 45.26 to win the 4x100 meter relay.
Redshirt-freshman Rob Cardina (Lancaster, Pa.) won the 100 meters and sophomore Tom Damiani (Tunkhannock, Pa.) was victorious in the 1500 meters with a time of 4:01.79.
Penn State travels to the Big Ten Championships at Purdue on May 16-18.