Kent State edges trackwomen

By MIKE MITSTIFER
Collegian Staff Writer

As close as the Penn State women's indoor track team was to making the trip to Kent State two weeks ago, they were just as close to beating the Golden Flashes this weekend and taking the Doug Raymond Invitational championship.

Penn State was able to make the trip for Saturday's meet after being unable to attend the Golden Flash Open earlier in the month due to inclement weather.

Saturday's meet in Kent, Ohio, found the Lions' totaling 187 points, barely being edged by host Kent State's total of 192. Bowling Green finished third with 133 points, West Virginia placed fourth with 127 and Toledo finished a distant fifth with 77.

"We had a few people sick, but for the most part, we had a good meet," said coach Teri Jordan. "I think it's a great tune-up -- having a scoring meet before Big Tens."

Penn State senior captain Shakeema Walker had another stellar meet as she won both the triple jump and long jump events. Walker's triple jump distance totaled 12.43 meters, while her leap in the long jump came in the role of a substitute.

Walker stepped in for an injured teammate with her first-place mark of 5.70 meters in the long jump.

"Shakeema Walker was definitely a highlight," Jordan said. "She was the team leader and team captain, showing how it was supposed to be done."

"She put team in front of self, and really came through for the team."

That team-first attitude, which was a main goal of the team since the opening day of the season, seems prevalent through three meets.

"Everybody seems to really want to succeed this year at Big Tens," freshman thrower Robbin Shomper said. "We all want to make it there as a team."

Speaking of teams, the Lions' distance medley team tallied their second consecutive win, finishing in 12 minutes, 29.9 seconds.

Toyin Augustus followed Walker's lead in the triple jump, finishing second behind her teammate with a distance of 11.89 meters. The sophomore followed that season best with a second-place finish in the 55-meter high hurdles with a time of 8.11 seconds.

Sophomore pole-vaulter Biz Curran broke her own school record with a vault of 2.76 meters, good enough for second position in the meet.

Nicole Paul's 200-meter dash time of 25.39 seconds earned the junior fourth place and a personal best.

Felicia Cooksey had another impressive meet, finishing in the top five in a pair of events. The junior finished second in the high jump and third in the long jump.

Deshaya Williams returned to the team to record a personal-best distance in the shot put. Her throw of 14.05 meters was worthy of third place in the meet. Williams also recorded a fifth-place finish in the weight throw.

Sprinter Tiffany Glenn posted a second-place time of 7.17 seconds in the 55-meter dash. She complemented that with a fifth-place showing in the 200-meter dash.

The Lions now await the Millrose Games, which will be held Friday and Saturday in New York, N.Y.