Pitt track and field readies for Big East challenge

Like an automobile before a big race, the Pitt track and field team was in the shop over the… Like an automobile before a big race, the Pitt track and field team was in the shop over the weekend, getting its annual tune-up in preparation for the Big East Championships. The tune-up came in the form of two meets – the New Balance Invitational and the Akron Invitational.

The New Balance Invitational featured some of the nation’s top track and field teams and accepted only the top athletes. For that reason, the Panthers were separated, with half the team competing at New Balance in New York and the rest competing in Akron.

“I really had mixed feelings about the meets,” Pitt head coach Alonzo Webb said. “We didn’t compete as well as I wanted to across the board, but it wasn’t bad overall.”

The instructions for those competing were to avoid over-running and to compete with intelligence in preparation for the Big East Championships.

Athletes competing in Akron were asked to run in new events. To build strength, Webb had multiple male runners take part in the 5,000 meters races.

The gold and blue division version of the race featured Mike Long, who placed 10th with a time of 14:57.23; Steve Gonzalez, Curtis Larimer, Kyle Kaminski, Jeff Stortz and Christian Schmidt also participated in the race.

Freshman Alonzo Webb III gained experience in the high jump, finishing 12th with a height of 1.73 meters.

In the throws, A.J. Kielinski placed ninth in the weight throw with a distance of 17.04 meters and 10th in the shot put with a throw of 13.55 meters.

In the women’s competition, senior Kim Rorabaugh qualified for the Big East championships in the shot put with a mark of 13.29 meters, which placed her fifth in the gold division.

Kendall Butch finished fifth in the gold division in the high jump with a height of 1.63 meters. She also took second in the pole vault in the blue division, finishing with a height of 3.5 meters.

Freshman Shanae’ Thomas finished seventh in the gold competition in the triple jump with a distance of 11.09 meters. She also took fifth in the long jump.

Several Panthers set personal-best times, including Thomas, Carron Mitchell, Akiesha Gilcrist, Sossena Wood and Katrina Long.

At the New Balance Invitational, hurdler Mike Wray and distance runner Sam Bair led the men.

Wray finished second in the preliminaries and went on to win in the finals with a time of 7.75.

Bair was one of three Pitt competitors in the mile and placed second with a time of 4:00.99.

Eric Fleming took 12th in the event, but according to Webb, left the meet with something more important – confidence.

“[Fleming] was hesitant before racing because he thought he was overmatched,” Webb said. “He was challenged to run at a very fast pace and was able to do so.

“He now knows he can compete with anybody.”

Barrett Warden, Eric Jones and Andy Tomaswick each earned personal bests in their events.

Tomaswick finished 16th in the 3,000 meters with a time of 8:29.86.

“[Tomaswick] was another guy who wasn’t very confident prior to his race,” Webb said. “He ran a very tactful race and I think it was a big confidence boost for him.”

Leading the way for the women at New Balance was the impressive 200-meter relay team, which took first place in its race with a time of 1:37.98.

According to Webb, the relay team, which consists of Patricia Anyanwu, Raquel Bender, Shanea Calhoun and Shantea Calhoun, expects to be a force at the Big East championships.

“I knew we were talented, but I was surprised at how easily we won,” Webb said.

In the 60-meter hurdles, Mycaiah Clemons ran for a personal-best time of 8.75, placing 20th.

Redshirt senior Nicki Angstadt also earned a personal best in the 3,000 meters with a time of 9:50.89.

Janessa Murphy earned a career best in the triple jump with a height of 11.67 meters but was even more impressive in the long jump. In that event, she placed fourth with a distance of 6.04 meters and is now the conference leader.

The Panthers have one meet remaining before the Big East Indoor Track and Field Championships.

They will return to State College this weekend to take part in the Penn State Challenge Cup.