Feb. 5, 2016
DAY ONE RESULTS | DAY ONE TEAM SCORES
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Lexi Masterson's performance in the women's pole vault would highlight day one action of the Sykes & Sabock Challenge Cup for the Nittany Lions at the Ashenfelter III Indoor Track.
Masterson, for the third time this season, won the women's pole vault clearing a school record 4.20m (13'-9.25") moving her up the national list finishing the day as the No. 15 vaulter in the nation. This marks the second time this season that Masterson has reset the school record.
Also in the women's pole vault for Penn State were Hannah Mulhern and Kasey Kemp who would clear personal bests of 4.13m (13'-6.50) and 3.93m (12'-10.75"), respectively, to take third and fourth-place.
Rounding out competitors in the pole vault for Penn State would be freshman Megan Fry with a best clearance on the day of 3.78m (12'-4.75").
The women's Pentathlon would see Madeline Holmberg finish the five event competition with a personal best score of 3,711 points taking second-place, while teammate Tal Ben-Artzi would finish in third-place with a total score of 3,648 points.
The men's 60-meters would see five Nittany Lions advance to the finals with school record holder Xavier Smith taking the event in a time of 6.79 seconds.
Dan Chisena, making his season debut for the Lions, would take third clocking 6.88, followed closely by Cody Minnig who stopped the clock at 6.91 seconds. Rounding out the event for Penn State were Anton Porter (6.97, Season Best) and Malik Moffett (6.97) in sixth and seventh, respectively.
In the women's 60-meters, Penn State would qualify four athletes to the finals as Lauren Costa (7.79), Deja Davis (7.83), Dannielle Gibson (7.87), and Keianna Albury (7.87) would finish fifth, sixth, seventh, and eighth, respectively.
The 60-meter hurdles would see Quenee Dale continue her push towards the national championships, winning the event in a time of 8.37, a full 0.39 seconds ahead of the next competitor.
Tommy Louro, Peter Hughey, Joseph Phifer, and Will Cather would combine to run 10.09.58 in the men's distance medley relay, finishing in second-place trailing only Connecticut.
The quartet of Julie Kocjancic, Frances Bull, Victoria Crawford, and Sarah Jane Underwood would finish in second in a time of 11:35.10.
Having already competed in the 60-meters, Gibson returned to compete in the long jump finishing the day with a best jump of 6.06m (19'10.75") and winning the event by over 10 inches.
Madeline Holmberg took second-place with her jump of 5.81m (19'-00.75"), while Kaitlin Lopez would take sixth with a best mark of 5.56m (18'-3").
Competing in the long for the first time in his Nittany Lion career Chisom Ifedi, currently ranked No. 11 in the nation in high jump, would take seventh-place with his jump of 6.83m (22'-5"), followed by Malik Moffett (6.79m/22'-3.5") and Robert Cardina (6.56m/21'6.25") in 10th and 12th, respectively.
Rounding out the first day of action at the Sykes & Sabock Challenge Cup were the men's and women's weight throw. The trio of Rachel Fatherly, Alyssa Robinson, and Obeng Marfo would finish 1-2-3 on the night behind Fatherly's meet leading throw of 19.64m (64'-5.25"). Robinson would take second with her throw of 18.57m (60'-11.25") while Marfo would claim third-place with her personal best toss of 18.04m (59'-2.25").
For the Nittany Lion men, Morgan Shigo and Kory Decesaris claimed sixth and seventh-place, respectively, with their throws of 18.80m (61'8.25") and 18.32m (60'1.25").
Cornell's Rudy Winkler would win the event with his throw of 22.82m (74'10.50"), a new meet and facility record.
Penn State will return to the track for day-two action of the Sykes & Sabock Challenge Cup tomorrow starting at 11 a.m. at the Ashenfelter III Indoor Track.
For more on Nittany Lion track & field, log onto www.GoPSUsports.com or follow the team on Twitter @PennStateTFXC.