Track and Field Opens 2014-15 at Golden Flash Gala
12/4/2014 12:00:00 AM | Track & Field
Schedule of Events | Heat Sheets
KENT, Ohio – The University of Pittsburgh men’s and women’s track and field teams are set to open the 2014-15 season this weekend at the Golden Flash Gala hosted by Kent State.
Coming off a highly successful 2013-14 campaign, the Panthers return eight student-athletes who were NCAA Regional qualifiers a season ago and two (Desmond Palmer and Evann Thompson) who reached the NCAA National Championship Meet.
This weekend’s meet is set to beginning on Friday afternoon, December 5, with field events. The weight throw will get things started at 1 p.m., followed by the pole vault at 3 p.m. The long jump, along with distance running events, is set for 5 p.m.
The majority of the meet will continue on Saturday beginning at 10:30 a.m. with the 60 meter dash qualifying heats.
Palmer and Thompson both qualified for the NCAA Championship Meet last year in the 400 meter hurdles, while Palmer also participated as a member of the men’s 4x400 meter relay team. Palmer earned Second-Team All-American status as a freshman, while Thompson just missed All-American accolades in her sophomore campaign.
Also poised for award-filled seasons for the men include Andrew Wells and Ethan Shalaway in the throws, and Luke Gallaher in the multi-events. Wells already holds three school records (weight throw, hammer and discus) and will look to the NCAA Championships Meet as a senior.
Dustin Fuller returns for his junior year as one of Pitt’s top sprinters, while transfers Imani Brown (jumps), Christopher Tate (sprints) and Donnell Taylor (sprints) look to make immediate contributions.
On the women’s side, throwers Haley Springman and Taylor Slaney look to continue building upon their impressive results from last season, while Julia Koloski, the ECAC long jump champion, returns for her senior year. On the track, Zoey Whittington and Khadeja Kearney lead the sprints, while Cayla Del Piano and Rachel Brown return as the top distance runners.
This is the Panthers’ only meet in the 2014 calendar year. They are then off until January 10, 2015 when they will resume action at the Penn State Relays.
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