It hardly looked like a track meet.
With most of the athletes and spectators waiting indoors to avoid the rain, the Nittany Lion Track was nearly empty during the women's track and field competition at the Nittany Lion Relays Saturday. Despite the dismal conditions they faced, the Nittany Lions still posted regional qualifying marks and personal bests, keeping Penn State women's track and field head coach Beth Alford-Sullivan optimistic about the team's progress.
"People fought hard," Alford-Sullivan said. "Performances are coming together off of training and competition experiences, so for what we were dished we really did a nice job."
With the Penn Relays in their sights next weekend, this meet was a low-key, "train-through" meet for the Lions. The team was pleased, however, that it could spend its first weekend since April 1 at home.
"We're so excited to be home," junior sprinter and hurdler Kim Markel said. "We've been travelling for three or four weekends, and we haven't had good luck travelling."
The Lions used the comfort of home to their advantage, continuing to add more names to the long list of regional qualifiers.
Junior Helen Higgins finished second in the hammer throw, posting a regional qualifying mark of 180-8 feet. Teammate senior Jennifer Leatherman, who already regionally qualified in the hammer throw and shot put earlier this season, placed first in both events. Freshman Emma Schmelzer placed first in the discus with a throw of 149-4 feet. Sophomore Heidi Nadeau continued her exceptional performance in the javelin this year, placing first with a throw of 143-1 feet.
Competing in the 1500-meter run for the first time in her career, sophomore Megan Huchinson placed second with a time of 4:40.44. She finished only one second behind the winner. Alford-Sullivan said her time was the best mark of anyone on the team this season.
Sophomore Dominique Blake finished first in the 400-meter dash with a time of 55.06 seconds. She finished second to senior Sara Shoaff in the 100-meter dash. Shoaff finished with a time of 24.72 seconds. Junior Monique Walker won the 100-meter hurdles with a time of 14.32 seconds.
Freshman sprinter Aleesha Barber did not participate in the meet this weekend. She was wearing a boot on her foot as a precautionary measure to relieve pain she's been having in her Achilles tendon. Alford-Sullivan said the team does not yet know the extent of the injury.
Overall, the Lions used this meet as an opportunity to rest and recover in preparation for the more competitive Penn Relays in Philadelphia next weekend. The team was encouraged by its strong performance in the poor conditions this weekend.
"We really kept positive attitudes, and that's what we've been working on each meet," Markel said. "I'm just proud of our team as a whole."
