Feb. 9, 2008
PITTSBURGH -
The Pitt track and field squads traveled to New York, N.Y., this weekend to take part in the New Balance Collegiate Invitational. They returned home with two event titles and multiple top 10 finishes for their efforts.
The Panthers' event crowns came in the women's 800 and 1600-meter relays. The 1600-meter team ran a time of 3:45.60 and the 800 squad turned in a time of 1:37.70, just .62 seconds off the school record time set at last year's meet.
Senior Amy Ruffolo (Wexford, Pa./North Allegheny) picked up a runner-up finish in the 3,000 meter run with a Big East and ECAC-qualifying mark 9:45.87. Kari Hedderick (Erie, Pa./Fort Lebouf) and Kaetlyn Brown (Pittsburgh, Pa./Schenley) added two more top 10 marks when they finished fifth and sixth in the 500 meters with times of 1:14.17 and 1:14.18, respectively.
Two Panthers also posted top 10 marks in the women's long jump as Janessa Murphy (Malevern, Pa./Great Valley) and Martina Hallman (Miami, Fla./Miami Southrridge) came in fourth and eighth, respectively, with marks of 6.21 and 5.88 meters.
On the men's side, Eric Jones (Pittsburgh, Pa./Gateway) launched himself 15.14 meters and claimed third place. Mike Wray (Philadelphia, Pa./Central) came in fourth in the prelims of the 60-meter hurdles with a season-best time of 7.85. He went on to take seventh in the finals of the event. In the pole vault, Ron Walter (Pittsburgh, Pa./Baldwin) cleared a height of 4.80 meters and grabbed sixth place. The height also qualified him for the IC4A championships later this year.
Freshman Josh Christopher (Irwin, Pa./Penn-Trafford) competed in the 5000 meter run, turning in a time of 15:08.59, while Eric Fleming (West Chester, Pa./Bishop Shanahan) finished the mile run in 4:15.03. Both times were good enough for seventh place, adding two more top 10 plaudits for the men's team.
Pitt will continue its indoor season next weekend at the Tyson Invitation in Fayateville, Ark. The two-day event is scheduled to begin on Friday, Feb. 15 and conclude on Saturday.
New Balance Collegiate Invitational Results
