Panthers Complete Day 1 of Golden Flashes Gala

Friday, December 9

Kent, Ohio

All Day

Pitt

KSU Golden Flashes Gala

Panthers Complete Day 1 of Golden Flashes Gala

12/9/2016 12:00:00 AM | Track & Field

KENT, Ohio - Four freshmen competed in their first collegiate events for the University of Pittsburgh track and field team as the Panthers completed their first day of events at the Golden Flashes Gala hosted by Kent State at Kent State Field House Friday.

"Season-opening meets are always interesting because you never really know what you're going to get in the way of performances," head coach Alonzo Webb said. "We had a small group of veterans and newcomers alike looking to test themselves against other collegians to see how their training and technique can be tweaked and improved."

Rookie Lauren Corbitt was Pitt's lone pole vaulter, coming in sixth at 3.55m. A trio of freshmen competed in the long jump, with Taylor Middleton coming in third (5.58m), followed by Nina Crawford in sixth (5.45m) and Jordan Fields in eighth (5.26m).

" Lauren Corbitt, a former high school gymnast, began the day for us competing in her very first collegiate meet, having only picked up pole vaulting one year ago tomorrow, and found herself in the seeded section with Jenn Shur: an Olympic gold medalist and world champion," Webb said. "She cleared the opening height and had a good attempt at the next. Andin Fosam followed in the weight throw but was having technical issues in the weight throw after throwing a personal best last week at the Blue-Gold meet last week. It was great seeing three other freshman long jumpers make the final in their first collegiate meet as well: Taylor Middleton, Nina Crawford and Jordan Fields finishing third, sixth and eighth. It was great seeing Paige Lumley competing again after an Achilles injury that kept her out of competition for almost two years, finishing seventh in the pentathlon. She was accompanied by Sullena Staton who suffered a minor tweak when she hyperextended her knee in the first event of the competition (60m hurdles). She tried to fight through until it was decided it was best not to finish the rest of the competition tonight. Finishing out the evening were our three young ladies in the 5000m race: Emily Loeffelholz, Stephanie Lednak and Natalie Vidacs getting some track work in and testing their fitness before the holiday break."

DAY 1 RESULTS

Women's 5000m
Emily Loeffelholz (11th, 19:09.98)
Stephanie Lednak (12th, 19:16.34)
Natalie Vidacs (13th, 19:18.71)

Women's Pole Vault
Lauren Corbitt (6th, 3.55m)

Women's Long Jump
Taylor Middleton (3rd, 5.58m)
Nina Crawford (6th, 5.45m)
Jordan Fields (8th, 5.26m)
Lydia Dennis (13th, 4.98)

Women's Indoor Pentathlon
Paige Lumley (7th, 3082)
60m Hurdles (9.72)
High Jump (1.49m)
Shot Put (9.53m)
Long Jump (5.04m)
800m (2:34.47)

Sullena Staton (DNF)
60m Hurdles (9.46)
High Jump (1.49m)
Shot Put (10.62m)
Long Jump (4.88m)
800m (DNS)

"Overall it gave the coaches an opportunity to see their competitiveness and give us a benchmark from which we can continue to prepare them for the indoor season," Webb said. "We are also anxious to get going tomorrow with a larger group that will competing in a variety of events."

UP NEXT
Pitt will complete competition at the Golden Flashes Gala Saturday. The complete 2016-17 track and field schedule is available online at PittsburghPanthers.com.

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