Heading into the Virginia Tech Invite this past weekend, the Pitt indoor track and field teams… Heading into the Virginia Tech Invite this past weekend, the Pitt indoor track and field teams were riding a wave of success fueled by high expectations.

These high expectations were realized as the Panthers jumped to one first place finish, threw for a second place crown and established several qualifying marks for the Big East Conference Championships at the end of February.

Tamara McGill grabbed the lone title for the Panthers as she leapt to victory in the women’s high jump with a mark of 1.70 meters.

“It was completely unexpected,” coach Alonzo Webb said. “I noticed that she was jumping very well in warm-ups and I figured she’d do well but she really did a great job of coming through for us.”

Amanda Walker added to the Panther’s success, grabbing second place in the women’s shot put with a heave of 15.09 meters. Walker also placed ninth in the weight throw with a Big East qualifying mark of 15.87 meters; it was a significant accomplishment, considering it was the second time she had competed in the event.

“The weight throw is a new event for Amanda and she has come a very long way in very short amount of time,” Webb said. “In the last meet in Kent she didn’t register a mark and her form was off, but she looked much better today as she looked more comfortable.”

In the women’s triple jump, Melanie Carter showed her competitiveness as she jumped to a NCAA provisional mark of 12.77 meters while placing fifth in her first competitive jumps in more than a month.

With the defending indoor NCAA champion and current member of the U.S. track and field team in the race, Trenace Elliot ran her first open 400 meters of the season. Her time of 55.63 seconds will place her near the top of the Big East conference for the women’s 400 meters.

Also making waves for the Panthers was pole vaulter Matt Brousse, who grabbed fourth place while jumping to a seven-inch personal best of 4.75 meters. Jeryl Wilborn, who has been running well, dashed to a sixth place finish in the men’s 600 meters.

“Jeryl is making good progress, and he’s learning to run a lot smarter in his races,” Webb said.

The distance medley team of Andy Zang, Chris Anderson, Raymond Gayle and Dan Hull brought home a fifth place finish, although many of the team’s members running in several events.

Anderson, who had a solid day on the track, turned in a Big East qualifying time in the men’s 200 meters, while also running with the men’s 4-by-400 “B” team.

“Chris is really beginning to set himself apart, and I’m pleased with his progress,” Webb said. “He’s looked really good in the last couple meets and as a freshman he’s doing very well.”

The Panthers return to action Jan. 31, as they travel to Penn State for the Penn State National Open.