The Penn State women's track and field team dominated at yesterday's Bucknell Team Challenge in Lewisburg, winning the team portion of the meet and turning in several outstanding individual performances.

The team took first in 16 events, earning an overall score of 251. Of the eight teams that competed, Bucknell was the next closest to the Nittany Lions with a score of 131.33.

While the victory was partially a product of weaker competition compared to the past few weeks, the team performed well to its own standards, as several athletes recorded personal bests in preparation for the elite competition at next week's Penn Relays.

"It was a great tune-up," Penn State head coach Beth Alford-Sullivan said.

Distance runner Bridget Franek turned in an especially impressive performance, as she won the steeplechase with an NCAA East region leading time of 10 minutes, 16.40 seconds. The time was also the fifth-fastest in the NCAA this season. Franek, who has led the team in distance events all year, was competing in the steeplechase for the first time.

"It was a very rare performance," Alford-Sullivan said. "She's just been an outstanding performer."

Aleesha Barber took first in both the 100- and 400-meter hurdles, setting personal bests in both races, with times of 13.52 seconds and 58.54, respectively. Both times set track records at Bucknell's Christy Matthewson stadium.

Barber would also be involved in another record-setting performance when she and Brienne Simmons, Gayle Hunter and Dominique Blake combined for a facility record-setting time of 3:39.18 in the 4 x 400 meter relay. The time hit the NCAA regional qualifier and gave Penn State its second 4 x 400 combination to qualify, as the team of Shana Cox, Simmons, Barber and Blake has qualified earlier this season.

Having two 4 x 400 teams able to compete at Regionals will give the coaching staff more flexibility.

"It certainly shows a lot of depth," Alford-Sullivan said. "It's definitely something we're excited about to have that flexibility at Regionals."

In the field events, Hunter hit the regional standard in the long jump, while throwers Helen Higgns, Toya Woods and Emma Schmelzer each won the hammer throw, shot put and discus, respectively. All three posted regional qualifying throws in their events.