Indoor Track And Field Heads To Nittany Lion Challenge

Photo: Ashley Grant (top), Earnest Waters (right).

FOLLOW THE ACTION
• LIVE results will be available on GoPSUSports.com.
• LIVE updates will be provided throughout the day on Twitter (@PennStateTFXC, Hashtag: #NLChallenge)
• A full recap of the day’s events will be available at UAlbanySports.com following the meet.

LAST TIME OUT (MEN)
Senior Sean Cooper served as one of the Carlton Crowell Open's highlights last Saturday at West Point, as he placed first in the heptathlon with 4,720 points. Cooper's winning heptathlon performance included a first-place finish in the 60m hurdles with a time of 8.84, while placing second in the high jump with a 6-2 leap. Junior Nick Mattera also contended in the seven-event competition, placing third overall with a total of 4,355 points. Mattera took first in pole vault with a 14-5.75 mark. He also came in second in the 1,000m run, recording a time of 2:52.76.

Alexander Bowen captured the high jump victory with an IC4A-qualifying bound of 6-10.75. Also topping the IC4A standard in the first meet of the season was Alfonso Scannapieco, posting a pole vault mark of 15-9.

LAST TIME OUT (WOMEN)
The Great Danes had six athletes place in the top three of their events at the Carlton Crowell Open, hosted by Army. Sophomore Michelle Anthony paced the Danes in the 60m hurdles with a 9.00 time, good for second-place. Freshman Paige Vadnais also placed second in the pentathlon, accumulating 2,735 points in her inaugural collegiate competition. Vadnais won the 800m with a time of 2:36.85, while taking second in the shot put (24-7.25) and the high jump (4-9.5). Sophomore transfer ToniAnn Werner placed third in the five-event contest, earning the 60m hurdles win (9.38), while tying Vadnais for second in the high jump (4-9.75).

The field team stood out for the Great Danes, as sophomore Samantha Kosa finished second in the shot put (42-3.25) followed by teammate Janice Johnson (41-5.25) in third.

NITTANY REVIEW
At last year’s Nittany Lion Challenge, the Great Danes left their mark as four athletes broke program records and Alfonso Scannapieco set a new meet record with a 16-6 pole vault mark. He will look to defend that record this weekend.

Kathyrn Fanning’s program-best 4:51.88 mile time placed her third overall, while Alexander Bowen became the first UAlbany track and field athlete to jump over seven feet in the high jump (7- 0.25). Sherez Mohamed also broke a school record with her 1:36.00 600m time.    

Notable track events on the men's side included the first place 60 meter performance by Earnest Waters (6.87), while Donald Williams Jr. clocked 6.88 in the same event. On the women’s field side, Pat McNish made an 18-5.25 leap, finishing first in the long jump event. 

AROUND THE AMERICA EAST
Seniors Jonathan Santana and Charles Karam have recorded the best 500m marks in the America East so far this season. Santana posted a 1:04.97 at the Crowell Open last week, while Karam was right behind with a 1:04.99 time. Bowen’s 6-10.75 high jump effort is also a league-best this winter, and Scannpieco (15-9) and Mattera (14-5.75) own the top two slots in pole vault.

On the women’s side, Michelle Anthony’s 60m hurdles time of 9.00 and junior Ashley Grant’s 5-5 high jump leap are both good for third in the conference, while shot putters Samantha Kosa (42-3.25) and Janice Johnson (41-5.25) rank second and third, respectively.

UP NEXT
UAlbany will play host to over 40 schools and 1,800 student athletes Jan. 18^th in the UAlbany Great Dane Classic. The meet will take play in the NYC Armory.