University of Pittsburgh Athletics
Pitt
YSU Invitational
Pitt Has Yet Another Solid Meet; Impresses at YSU
1/23/2016 12:00:00 AM | Track & Field
YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – The University of Pittsburgh track and field team had another impressive weekend as Pitt had standout performances across the board at the YSU Invitational at the Watson and Tressel Training Site (WATTS) on Friday.
“It was another solid weekend for the entire team,” head coach Alonzo Webb said. “It’s always nice when the entire team is together unlike last week when we competed in two different meets. Today they were able to feed off each other’s energy. This meet provided our young athletes an opportunity to have success and our more established athletes to gain confidence heading into championship season starting next weekend at the Penn State National.”
RUNNING EVENTS:
MEN:
Junior Brylan Slay had a breakout day for the Panthers in the sprints by winning the 200 meter dash in a time of 21.76, and taking second place in the 400 meter dash with a time personal record time of 47.96.
Slay was the first collegiate finisher in the 400 and was only behind former Panther Brycen Spratling who was running unattached and posted a time of 46.26, which is a new WATTS track record. Donnell Taylor was third in that same race in a new career-best time of 48.73.
Junior Desmond Palmer’s most notable individual finish of the day came in the 60 meter hurdles as he took second place overall. After running a time of 8.27 in qualifying, Palmer posted a 8.06 in the finals.
Long distance runners Ryan Hughes and Chris Montgomery took second and third place in the 5,000 meter run in times of 14:46.55 and 14:55.17, respectively. In the mile, Andrew Koryak PR-ed and took sixth place overall in a time of 4:24.30.
WOMEN:
Morgan Harvey took home a pair of second place finishes in the 60 meter hurdles and the 400 meter dash and helped the women’s 4x400 meter relay team win that event.
The quartet of Harvey, Emily Schumacher, Dominique Watkins, Sullena Staton ran a time of 3:51.50 and were three second clear of second place.
In the hurdles Harvey, she ran a time of 8.85 in qualifying which advanced her to the finals where she ran a PR of 8.77. She then posted 56.91 in the 400 meter dash which was three tenths of a second off of first place. Jamila Branch also notched a top-5 finish in that race by placing fifth in 58.27.
The women’s long distance team continues to impress heading into the heart of the indoor season. Most notably, Samantha Owens won the 5K with a 38 second PR in a time of 18:18.69.
The 800 meter run featured Pitt taking places 2-7, led by Ellen Crook who was just out-kicked at the finish line. Crook ran a time of 2:14.32, while Erika Rector of Malone won the race in 2:14.26. Melanie Vlasic, Anja Weiler, Miranda Salvo, Erin O’Connell and Erin Keelan took placed 3-7.
Dee Dee Adams won the 3,000 meter run in a time of 10:15.63, while five other Panthers established new personal records in that race. Pitt also had five athletes PR in the mile.
FIELD EVENTS:
The Panthers took first and third in the women’s weight throw as Andin Fosam won the event with a distance of 17.83m, while Kailyn Clancy took third at 15.73m. Clancy also took second place overall in the shot put with a throw of 13.91m.
In the men’s weight throw, Andrew Wells placed second with a distance of 19.82m.
UP NEXT:
The Panthers head back to University Park next weekend for one of the biggest meets of the season at the Penn State National.
