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May 8, 2009
Maddy Outman earned the title of best athlete in the PSAC with a decisive victory in the heptathlon and IUP took first place finishes in both long jumps on the first day of the PSAC outdoor track and field championships being held at Millersville. Outman compiled 4,876 points to easily outdistance Michele Frayne of Millersville by 74 points. Outman, who ranked sixth in the nation in the heptathlon entering the weekend, was first or second in five of the seven events. She had the top mark in the 100 hurdles (14.40) and 200 meter dash (25.30) while placing second in the high jump (5 feet, 2 ¼ inches), long jump (18-1/4) and 800 meters (2:29.42). Liz Tepsic also scored in the heptathlon, scoring 3,980 points to finish seventh. She was second in the shot put (36-3 ½) and third in the 200 (26.35). Outman was also part of a 1-2-3 sweep for IUP in the long jump. Tamika Taylor won with a top jump of 18-7 ¼, followed by Outman (18-3 ¼) and Brianna Liebold (17-11). Michelle Robbins contributed points in the pole vault by tying for eighth, clearing the bar at 9-8. Nafee Harris was the third individual champion for the Crimson Hawks, edging teammate Ceasar Westbrook for first place in the long jump. Harris turned in a top effort of 23-3/4 and Westbrook came in at 22-9 ¼. Harris began the meet ranked sixth in the nation in the long jump. In preliminary round action Friday, IUP set one school record and lowered two others that were set earlier this season. In the men's 4x100 meter relay, Harris, Hopeton Bailey, Kevin Raymond and Tristan Taylor broke a 14-year-old school record with a top qualifying time of 40.69, a performance that ranks them among the top 10 in the country. Raymond lowered his school record in the 400 meters with a time of 47.14 to improve his national standing. Kevin Patterson had held the record in the event since 1990. Raymond also advanced in the 200 meters in 21.67. Ben Hatch provisionally qualified for nationals in the 800 with a time of 1:52.53 while Taylor moved on in the 100 at 10.83. Outman had the top time in the prelims of the 100 meter hurdles, lowering her school record to 14.31. Outman took over the record from Mindy Ashcroft, who held it for the past 16 years. Tamika Taylor (12.36), Outman (12.52) and Liebold (12.53) all advanced to the finals in the 100 meter dash. Outman, Taylor, Liebold and Carlysha Towns qualified in the 4x100 meter relay in 48.35. The IUP women are in third place with 36.5 points, trailing only Slippery Rock with 53 and Lock Haven with 45. The men are sixth with 20 with Shippensburg leading the way with 71.5 points. The meet concludes Sunday. |
