Panthers Open Indoor Campaign With Impressive Showing At YSU Icebreaker

Friday, December 6

Youngstown, OH

Pitt

YSU Icebreaker

Panthers Open Indoor Campaign With Impressive Showing At YSU Icebreaker

12/9/2019 12:12:00 PM | Track & Field

Results

YOUNGSTOWN, OH – The Pitt track and field teams had a strong start to their 2019-20 indoor campaign this past weekend at the Youngstown State Icebreaker as they collected a total of nine victories. Sophomore Brenda Ayuk had a huge debut for Pitt as she notched victories in the mile and the 800m.

Making her indoor debut for the Panthers on Friday afternoon, Ayuk didn't disappoint as she opened up her career with a victory in the mile run, crossing the finish line in 4:53.35. Her time is good for 10^th in program history in the indoor mile and currently is the third best time in the NCAA. Ayuk was then able to rebound with another victory, this time in the 800m as she finished in 2:13.79, the seventh fastest time in the NCAA.

Senior Drew Glick had an impressive start to his final campaign as he notched a victory in the 800m run with a personal best time of 1:50.79, the sixth fastest time in program history in the event. His time also currently leads the NCAA. Fellow Senior Dante Watson posted a third place finish in the event while freshman Jack Balick made his Pitt debut and took home fourth place in 1:55.47.

The Pitt women had a good showing in the 60m hurdles on Friday as Eddita Pessima picked up where she left off last season as she posted a victory in the event, crossing the line in 8.47 seconds, the ninth fastest time in the NCAA so far this season. Finishing right behind Pessima was senior Aysha Muhammad who placed second in 8.63 seconds while Breanna Phillips finished in fifth place in 9.07 seconds after running a personal best time of 8.87 in the prelims. Pessima also notched a third place finish in the 60m dash in 7.50 seconds, a personal best time and the seventh fastest in program history.

In the lone distance race for the men, the 5000m run, Pitt placed first and second as Josh Higgins collected the victory in 14:47.92 while sophomore Tyler Rollins crossed the line in second place in 14:54.19.

In the 400m dash, the Pitt women had four runners place in the top six on Friday led by Nikki Scherer who notched a second place finish in 54.28 seconds, the second fastest time in the event so far this season in the NCAA. Not far behind Scherer were Phillips in fourth place in 56.51, Alexis Leech in fifth place in 56.77 and Nina Crawford in sixth place in 56.93 seconds. In the men's 400m dash, Lonzell Feagin paced the Panthers with a third place finish in 47.46 seconds while freshman Raymond Oriahki made his Pitt debut with a fifth place finish in 48.45 seconds.

Pitt continued their strong showing in the 4x400m relays as they notched a victory on the men's side as the team of clocked in at 3:16.26 to earn the win. A second men's quartet crossed the line in second place while on the women's side, a pair of 4x400m relays finished in second and third place, respectively.

In the field events, the Panthers had a trio of winners including defending ACC indoor high jump champion Greg Lauray who opened his season with a first place finish, clearing 2.16m. His height currently leads the NCAA in the high jump. Taylor Middleton made a strong first impression for her senior campaign as she won the long jump with a leap of 5.93m while fellow senior Jordan Fields claimed fourth place with a jump of 5.66m. Making her Pitt debut after transferring from Western Michigan, Abena Atuobi notched the victory in the shot put with a throw of 14.65m, the fourth best throw in program history in the indoor shot put.

Pitt also had a pair of throwers finish strong in the weight throw on Friday as freshman Shannah Mallett took home second place with a heave of 16.47m, the eighth best in program history, and Antoinette Gyles notched a third place finish with a throw of 16.27m, the 10^th best throw in program history.

Pitt also had four athletes compete in the Boston U Season Opener on Saturday afternoon as Evan Addison notched a 10^th place finish in the 3000m in 8:20.76 and Zach Lefever took home 15^th place in the same event, crossing the line in 8:29.25. Nick Wolk notched a 25^th place finish in the men's 5000m run in 14:17.36 while fellow senior Sam Shields posted a 45^th place finish in the 5000m run as she finished in 17:28.33.

The Panthers will now have over a month off until their next meet which is scheduled for Jan. 11 at the Penn State Challenge.

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