Panther track and field enjoys success yet again

Pitt track and field weathered the storm in University Park, Pa., this weekend to dominate… Pitt track and field weathered the storm in University Park, Pa., this weekend to dominate Penn State University’s annual Nittany Lion Relays. Amidst the rain, Panthers placed in the top three in several competitions in both track and field.

Sophomore Mike Wray delivered an all-around performance to remember, taking first place in the 200-meter dash and 110-meter hurdles.

Wray combined with freshman Samuel Perkins, junior Kareem Cousar and senior Chris Anderson to take home the 100-meter relay title. The team raced to a 42.57-second finish, edging out Penn State’s quartet of relay sprinters by just two-tenths of a second.

Anderson and Perkins finished just behind Wray in the 200-meter dash, taking second and third respectively. Anderson also placed third in the 100-meter sprint.

Junior Eric Fleming beat out a trio of Penn State distance runners in the 1500-meter race, posting a time of 3:54.95.

Nationally ranked javelin thrower Tony Bonura, a senior, tossed his way to first with a dominant performance, winning the competition by almost seven full meters.

Sophomore Keith Higham cleared 5.20 meters in the pole vault to take first place for the weekend.

Freshman Eric Jones – a Monroeville, Pa., native – leapt to a second-place finish in the triple jump with a hop measured at 14.05 meters.

The women’s track and field team placed in several field competitions while running to top-three finishes in three track races.

Senior Maureen McCandless paced to first in the 1500-meter distance race, winning the race by one second with a time of 4:39.44. Four seconds later, senior Abigail Zaylor crossed the finish line to place third in the race.

Pitt sophomore Martina Hallman finished second in the 400-meter hurdles with a time of 14.75-seconds, just four-tenths of a second off the first-place finishing Monique Walker of Penn State. She then took first in the triple jump with an 11.82-meter landing.

Hallman placed second in the long jump, posting a 5.75-meter landing, but freshman Janessa Murphy hopped to first in the competition, leaping 5.97 meters.

Murphy placed second in the 100-meter dash behind Penn State’s Walker, sprinting to a time of 12.56 seconds.

Sophomore pole vaulter Nicole Pitchford cleared 3.65-meters in the pole vault competition, just missing her career high of 3.7-meters.

Senior Karolyn Kitchens tossed her javelin 38.93 meters to take third behind a pair of Penn State throwers.

Pitt track hits the road this weekend for the Penn Relays in Philadelphia. The events begin Thursday and will continue through Saturday. After the Penn Relays, Pitt will enter postseason competition, looking to defend their Big East title.