Panthers Record 10 Wins to Complete Golden Flash Gala

Saturday, December 9

Kent, Ohio

Pitt

Kent State Golden Flash Gala

Panthers Record 10 Wins to Complete Golden Flash Gala

12/9/2017 5:33:00 PM | Track & Field, Panther Club

Results

One Relay, Nine Individuals Pick Up Victories

RESULTS

KENT, Ohio – Pitt track and field gathered wins in 10 events to close out the Kent State Golden Flash Gala at Kent State Field House Saturday.

Nine Panthers won individual events. Laila Ismail, Desiree Garland, Quadaisha Newkirk and Alexis Leech claimed the women's 4x400m victory at 3:47.68.

"This weekend was our official season opener and it went pretty much to form," head coach Alonzo Webb said. "Our expectation was to see where we are as a team by evaluating our strengths and identifying any weaknesses that need to be addressed. Our student-athletes know that we have high expectations and they embrace that, understanding that that is what we need to be the best team we can be. It was great seeing so many event winners and finalists this weekend. The challenge now is to maintain their fitness as we head into the holiday break. I'm really excited about this team and look forward to the beginning of the new year and continuing the journey."

Panthers recording individual wins included:

Senior Whitney Martin, women's 60m (7.57)
Senior Desiree Garland, women's 300m (38.94)
Senior Quadaisha Newkirk, women's 500m (1:12.96)
Senior Beth Shenck, women's 800m (2:14.02)
Senior Melanie Vlasic, women's mile (5:06.66)
Junior Natalie Hilton, women's 3000m (10:30.73)
Freshman Lonzell Feagin, men's 300m (34.17)
Freshman Greg Lauray, men's high jump (2.05m)
Freshman Kollin Smith, men's long jump (7.21m)

The Panthers took five out of the top seven spots in the women's 300m, with Garland as champion, Danielle Leaks in third (40.72), Whitney Martin in fourth (40.97), Nina Crawford in fifth (42.18) and Aysha Muhammad in seventh (42.48).

Pitt claimed a top-three sweep in the women's 500m, led by Newkirk's win, and followed by Leech (1:15.83) and Ismail (1:17.01).

Behind Shenck's win in the 800m, Pitt had five in the top six, including Mikaela Vlasic in second (2:19.60), Anja Weiler in third (2:20.00), Emily Schumacher in fourth (2:21.61) and Melanie Vlasic in sixth (2:22.71).

Including Melanie Vlasic's win, the Panthers swept the top five spots of the women's mile, with Weiler in second (5:15.50), Sophie Lane in third (5:18.11), Mikaela Vlasic in fourth (5:19.22) and Erin O'Connell in fifth (5:30.91).

To round out Hilton's win in the women's 3000m, the Panthers had three out of the top four spots, including Erin Keelan in second (10:33.50) and Meghan Bartel in fourth (10:47.32).

Other Panthers with top-three finishes included Taylor Middleton in women's triple jump (second, 12.08m), Ade Jones-Roundtree in the men's 60m (third, 6.95), Ken Brosier in the men's 500m (second, 1:05.81), Nikki Scherer in the women's 400m (third, 58.37) and Lysaih Rice in the women's 200m (third, 25.20).

UP NEXT
The Panthers will open the 2018 calendar year with the Nittany Lion Challenge, hosted by Penn State in University Park, Pa., Saturday, Jan. 13.

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