Jared Long gained a provisional qualifying mark for nationals in the 400 meter hurdles while Laurie Ajavon moved into first in the conference in the long jump at the Penn Relays in Philadelphia.

Long posted a time of 52.96 to take over the top spot in the PSAC. Ajavon jumped 19 feet, 4 ¼ inches to finish sixth in a field of 28 athletes, including several from the Division I ranks, in the College Eastern division of the long jump. Her jump enabled her to pass teammate Brianna Liebold for the conference lead.

Two other IUP athletes were in action during the first two days of one of the most prestigious track and field meets in the world. Leander Toney competed in the high jump and cleared the bar at 6-9 ¾ to place second in the College Eastern division behind only an athlete from the University of Maryland.

Nafee Harris, a four-time national champion in the long jump during his outstanding college career, was entered in the championship division of the event along with athletes from such schools as Texas, Texas Tech, Texas A&M, Nebraska, Florida, Tennessee, LSU and Arkansas and had a top jump of 22-11 ¾.