Barber earns award for track performance

Freshman Aleesha Barber earned Big Ten Track Athlete of the Week honors yesterday, becoming the fourth Penn State athlete to attain the honor this spring. Barber was a triple winner at last weekend's Bucknell Team Challenge, clocking a pair of personal bests, while also setting three new stadium records with three regional-qualifying performances.

Barber began the day with a career-best time of 13.52 seconds in the 100-meter hurdles, bettering the regional standard as well as the previous track record. The freshman continued to shine the 400-meter hurdles, going 58.54 for the win and new stadium record. Barber's short hurdle time is the second fastest in school history, while her long barrier mark is the third best by a Nittany Lion. Barber's performance in the 400 hurdles is currently ranked third in the conference and 12th in the NCAA, while her mark in the 100 hurdles is the fourth fastest in the Big Ten standings.

Barber and teammates Briene Simmons, Gayle Hunter and Dominique Blake combined to set a new facility standard in the 4x400-meters, breezing to victory in 3:39.18, also a regional-qualifying mark.