KUTZTOWN, PA (May 8, 2010) – Only hours after graduating several seniors, the men's and women's track and field teams put their uniforms on one last time at home this season for the Kutztown Last Chance Meet at University Field and went out with a bang. (COMPLETE RESULTS) / (PHOTO GALLERY)
Bearing the sunny but windy afternoon, the women's track and field team had seven athletes earn first place finishes and the men's team had four first place finishers. The Golden Bears' men's 4x400 relay team of Percell Berry, Kori Meshaw, Kendel Dixon, and Shaun Crump also finished first.
Ashley Pinter won the hammer throw, throwing 164 feet, 4 inches, improving her NCAA provisional distance by more than a foot. Pinter also earned her season best in the discus throw when she threw 140 feet for first place. Christina Costanzo won both jumping events, leaping 16-2 the long jump and 35-9 in the triple jump. April Doyle threw the shot put 45-11, improving her NCAA provisional effort. Alex Sable won the pole vault with a clearance of 10-4.
On the track, Sarah Messner was victorious in the 100-meter dash (12.75 seconds). Brooke Mathews sprinted to first place in the 200-meter dash (26.62). Keri Brown won the 800-meter run in 2 minutes, 19.17 seconds. Lynn Lisofsky prevailed in the 400-meter hurdles (1:05.15).
“This was our last home meet and the last time competing on this track,” Lisofsky said. “This is just a very memorable day with graduation, performing well and winning the 400 hurdles. So I was happy. It was great day and one I will always remember.”
Kristen Slack, Matthews, and Shante Grayer, Messner finished second in the 4x100 relay in 50.17.
Steph Grimm, who walked across the graduation stage earlier in the morning and received a degree in leisure and sport studies with a minor in professional writing, was second in the 1,500-meter run (4:45.87). Also finishing second was Slack in the long jump (16-07), Pinter in the shot put (40-8), Rachel Weigle in the pole vault (10-00), and Kaitlyn Roberts in the javelin throw (96-29).
“It was nice to spend some time with my family between graduation and this meet,” Grimm said. “I wanted to end on two good notes. Graduating and earning a good time that would keep me in the top 10 in the PSAC in my event.”
Justin Germani soared 16-3 to win the pole vault, improving his NCAA provisional mark. Jason Rebuck not only won the discus throw (158-9), but improved his 154-07 NCAA preliminary throw by more than four feet.
Adan Farrah won the 200-meter dash in 24.12 and Kendel Dixon raced across the finish line in 49.02 for a first place finish in the 400-meter dash.
Finishing second for the Golden Bears was Shaun Crump in the 400-meter dash (49.54), Ben Loht in the 800-meter run (2:00.97), Matt Cannell in the long jump (22-11) and Greg Senatore in the hammer throw (152-5).
“It's been a really long day,” Dixon said. “It was a pretty good day. I mean it was a little windy and a little chilly but this was a nice tune-up for PSACs for us. It was a great day all in all. Everybody competed hard despite the conditions. It's all about effort and attitude and we all displayed those things today. We're really happy and content going into PSAC's next week.”
Both track teams return to action at the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Championships from May 13-15. The three-day event will be hosted by West Chester University.
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