University of Pittsburgh Athletics
Pitt
Kentucky Invitational
Pitt Track and Field has Successful Weekend at UK, PSU
1/16/2016 12:00:00 AM | Track & Field
KENTUCKY INVITE RESULTS | NITTANY LION CHALLENGE RESULTS
LEXINGTON, Ky. – In a split weekend that saw the University of Pittsburgh men’s and women’s track and field teams participate at the Kentucky Invitational and the Nittany Lion Challenge, the Panthers notched 25 top 10 finishes and multiple personal records.
"For the most part, everyone took advantage of this opportunity to measure themselves against some quality competition," head coach Alonzo Webb said. "We still have some things to work on before we are ready for the conference meet at the end of February. As long as we continue to focus on the process, the outcome will take care of itself."
KENTUCKY INVITATIONAL:
On the heels of Andrew Wells’ school record and first place finish in the weight throw last night, the Panthers registered six top 10 finishes on day two of the Kentucky Invitational at Nutter Field House.
As expected, junior Desmond Palmer had a strong showing as he placed 4th in the 60 meter hurdles in a time of 8.05, and helped the men’s 4x400 meter relay take second overall.
Palmer was joined by Christopher Tate, Josh McDonald and Donnell Taylor in the 4x4, and that quartet combined to run a season-best 3:13.88 and finished only behind Ohio State who ran a 3:11.91.
Tate also had a solid outing in the 200 meter dash, running to a sixth place finish in a time of 21.80.
Other notable finishes included Chris Spadaro in the triple jump who set an indoor personal best and tied his overall career best in the triple jump with a distance of 14.35m, en route to a third place finish.
Sophomore Morgan Harvey had a great showing for the women’s team with a seventh place finish in the 400 meter dash (56.23) and a 14th place finish in the 60 meter hurdles (8.93). Abby Peters took eighth in the 3,000 meter run (10:07.55 – PR).
NITTANY LION CHALLENGE:
The women’s long distance team, who is off to its best start in program history, had another outstanding showing at Penn State on Saturday.
“Today was another great day for the women’s distance crew,” assistant coach Adam Bray said. “These young ladies have gone to another level since coming off a successful cross country season. I am very proud of the way they compete and am excited to see how they will continue to carry this positive momentum into the upcoming weeks.”
The women’s distance team had three runners break five minutes in the mile, bringing the total to five athletes who have gone sub-5 in the first two weeks of the season. In contrast, Pitt only had two athletes break five minutes in the mile all of last season.
Sophomore Melanie Vlasic led the charge with a time of 4:55.73 and finished ninth overall, while Miranda Salvo (4:58.38 – 12th) and Ellen Crook (4:59.51 – 14th) also went sub-5.
The 800 meter run featured four runners finish inside the top 10, led by Beth Shenck in second place with a PR of 2:11.99. Erin O’Connelle, Cayla Del Piano and Sarah Kochinsky took places 6-8 and all finished within five tenths of a second of each other (2:18.34, 2:18.37, 2:18.79).
Four additional athletes finished inside the top 10 in the women’s 3,000 meter run. Kelly Hayes paced the Pitt contingency in fourth place (9:43.91 - PR), while Gillian Schriever placed sixth (9:45.28 - PR), Hillary Boxheimer seventh (29:50.72 – PR) Amy Kelly ninth (9:52.87 - PR).
In all, the Panthers had 19 athletes finish inside the top 10 at PSU with 13 personal bests.
Pitt will continue action next weekend, January 22, at the YSU Invitational hosted by Youngstown State.
