Women’s track sets season bests

As the Big East championships near for the Pitt women’s track and field team, it took part… As the Big East championships near for the Pitt women’s track and field team, it took part in its final event of the regular season — the Penn Relays. And what better way to go out than by setting new school records and season bests?

That’s just what the Panthers did.

Senior Marissa Dudek registered a new school record in the pole vault, clearing the height of 4.00 meters. Her performance surpassed her previous record of 3.91 meters.

In addition to the vault, the Panthers capitalized on the competition’s numerous relays by setting a few of the team’s best performances of the season.

Julianna Reed posted a season-best time of 58.52 seconds in the 400-meter hurdles, while the 400-meter relay team of Shanea Calhoun, Janessa Murphy, Raquel Bender and Shantea Calhoun finished with a season-best time of 45.91.

The 800-meter relay team of Shanea Calhoun, Shantea Calhoun, Bender and Reed also set a season best of 1:25.47.

Dudek’s record-setting vault was good for third place for her in the Championship division and also qualified her for the NCAA Regional competitions. Sophomore Nicole Pitchford’s 3.65 meter performance placed her eighth in a separate division.

Reed’s time in the 400-meter hurdles placed her at sixth place, while Martina Hallman ran for a time of 1:00.43 — good enough for a 21st place finish.

Pitt featured two members in the Eastern division of the long jump in Hallman and Murphy. Hallman took home 10th place with a 5.57 meter mark, while Murphy’s mark of 6.41 put her in 17th.

In the discus, freshman Stacey Bilan threw for 40.51 meters, while Hayle Ritchey, Carolyn Kitchens and Jill Knopsnyder tossed a javelin at 41.48, 38.70 and 36.11 meters, respectively.

Pitt managed one final NCAA Regional-qualifying performance when the Panthers finished third in the ECAC division of the 1,600-meter relay with a time of 3:41.67. The team featured Reed, Hallman, Selena Sappleton and Shantea Calhoun.

The same relay team competed in another relay, finishing with a time of 3:43.65.

Panther head coach Alonzo Webb could not be reached for comment.

The Panthers will resume action this weekend at the Big East Outdoor Championships held in Storrs, Conn.

As the women look to defend their title, they will hold a number of top marks in the conference at the beginning of the event.