Track and field breaks records at Penn State

The Pitt men’s and women’s track and field teams traveled to University Park, Pa., this past… The Pitt men’s and women’s track and field teams traveled to University Park, Pa., this past weekend for the Penn State National Open. Both teams pulled out high finishes and the men’s team broke two records.

Five athletes on the women’s team claimed top-five finishes. Senior Marissa Dudek led the team in the pole vault, in which she cleared 3.75 meters to take third. Last week, she was an NCAA provisional qualifier at the team’s season-opening meet at Akron. Dudek set the current record at Pitt last season with a mark of 4.01 meters.

Nicki Angstadt also showed some senior leadership, taking fourth in the 5,000 meters. Angstadt crossed the finish line in a personal-best time of 17:09.82.

Sophomore Shantea Calhoun took fourth in the 200 meters with a time of 24.41, while junior Julianna Reed finished fifth in the 400 meters with a time of 57.08.

“I had hoped for more from the women’s meet,” head coach Alonzo Webb said. “Three years ago it would have been a great performance for us, but we are the defending Big East Champions. We have raised our standards. I am hoping for improved performances this weekend. It usually takes sprinters and jumpers a couple of weeks to get their strides. We did get a lot of Big East qualifying performances that I was happy with.”

The women’s team posted 13 Big East Championship qualifying performances and seven for the ECAC. They will compete in two meets this weekend, on February 3 and 4 in the New Balance Invitational and also the Akron University Invitational on February 4.

The men’s team picked up right where they left off at their last meet. After breaking a record in Akron, they trampled two more at Penn State. Sophomores Keith Higham and Sam Bair set school records in the pole vault and mile, respectively.

Higham set his second record this year in the pole vault with a mark of 5.41 meters. He set a school record in the pole vault last year when he vaulted 5.09 meters, and broke it this year in Akron, vaulting 5.16 meters. Higham’s performance at Penn State made him an NCAA provisional qualifier in the pole vault.

“There was not a huge vaulting history at Pitt, so I am very excited,” Webb said “Keith is coming along well and he still has not reached what I feel is his potential. He is one of the top jumpers in the country. He and I are excited knowing he can do even more.”

Bair crushed his own record, but he also eclipsed one that has not been touched in 36 years. With a time of 4:00.14, Bair not only broke the Pitt school record, but also the facility record at the Horace Ashenfelter III Indoor Track. Jerry Richey set the previous Pitt record in the mile in 1970.

Bair’s time also made him an NCAA provisional qualifier.

“Sam’s performance was phenomenal,” Webb said. “Just knowing how many great athletes have come through this program and could not break this record makes it even more impressive. Jerry Richey is the name you think of when you think Pitt distance running. I am very excited for [Bair].”

Junior Tim Konoval also pulled in a high finish in the mile, taking third place with a time of 4:04.56, which made him an NCAA provisional qualifier as well.

“Tim broke the [previous mile] record too,” Webb said. “He should not be left out because it is just incredible for two guys in the same meet to beat a 36-year-old record.

The Panthers recorded other top-five finishes, including a second-place finish in the shot-put by Junior All-American Justin Clickett, who recorded a distance of 17.68 meters. Freshman Kevin Gilpatrick took third in the 600-meter with a time of 1:24.72, while fellow freshman Ron Walter finished fifth in pole vault with a mark of 4.05 meters. Sophomore A.J. Kielinski also earned a fifth-place finish. In the weight throw, he had a throw of 17.71 meters.

The Panthers also fared well in regards to conference competition. On the weekend, the teams turned in 12 Big East Championship qualifying performances. The men’s team will join the women at the New Balance Invitational this weekend as well as the Akron Invitational.