PITT WOMEN TO OPEN 2007 OUTDOOR SEASON IN VIRGINIA
3/23/2007 12:00:00 AM | Women's Track & Field
March 23, 2007
PITTSBURGH - After defending its Big East title for the second consecutive season in 2006, the Pitt women's track and field team will be traveling to their first outdoor meet of the year. The Panthers will be competing at the Fred Hardy Invitational in Richmond, Va., from March 23-24.
Coming into the first outdoor meet of the season, Pitt is turning to its successful veterans to lead the team. The Panthers have two 2007 NCAA qualifiers that are returning to the lineup. Last season, they sent four competitors to the NCAA Championships and had several Big East and ECAC champions.
Senior Julianna Reed (Gibsonia, Pa./Hampton) competed in the NCAA Championships for the second consecutive season after recording a time of 57.45 in the 400-meter hurdles. She broke the school record in that event and was one of two Pitt women to capture All-America honors in the outdoor season.
Shantea Calhoun (New Haven, Conn./Wilbur Cross) was also a two-time national qualifier last season, running a time of 23.39 in the 200 meters early in the season. She placed second in the league and also in the ECAC and holds three outdoor school records.
One of the team's most versatile competitors, Martina Hallman (Miami, Fla./Miami Southridge) demonstrates excellence in the hurdles, jumps and sprints. Last season, she captured the Big East title in the long jump with a distance of 6.18 meters. She was also a key runner in the 1,600-meter relay which placed second in the conference championships.
Also key to the team's success in sprints is Shanea Calhoun (New Haven, Conn./Wilbur Cross) who was a national qualifier as a freshman and looks to make a run for the NCAAs again this season. She was an integral member of the women's 400-meter relay team which captured the league title.