IUP athletes set recrods at Ed Fry Invitational

Over the weekend, Holden Wallace, a sophomore, broke a four-year old IUP record in the hammer throw. Along with Wallace, IUP’s men’s and woman’s team won six events at the Ed Fry Invitational at George P. Miller Stadium Saturday.

Wallace broke Eric Bowers’ mark from 2008 in the hammer throw with a mark of 147-00 meters, good for sixth overall in the Invitational. The record throw came on his next to last throw, which was also good for a Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference mark.

Also for the men’s team, Jared Long surpassed his season best mark in the 400 meters with a time of 53.11 seconds, which is an automatic qualifying time for Division II.  Long’s mark is the best time in the PSAC so far this season, 22nd best in Division II this spring.

“It felt great to run a good time on our home track in front of my friends and family,” Long said. “Being from the area, I had a nice section of fans cheering me on and I’m glad they got to see a great race.

“Their support and enthusiasm definitely gave me more to run for,” he said. “As for the Division II Championships, I have only provisionally qualified. I will need to drop my time yet if I want to have a chance of making it in.”

Along with Long, Ross Moreau also scored a PSAC-best in the shot put with a shot of 54.02-75 meters. Moreau’s toss was the best in the PSAC this spring and 17th best DII provisional mark this season.

Also reaching PSAC qualifying marks for the men’s team were Trevor Howard in the 3,000 meters with a time of 9:45.06; Elijah Williams in the 100 meters with a time of 10.97 seconds; Wallace in the shot put with a throw of 45-11.25 meters and Victor Costello in the 800 meters with a time of 1:56.58.

On the women’s team, Krista Matsko ran away with the win in the 400 meters with a time of 1:02.54 seconds, bettering her own personal PSAC qualifying time. Matsko fell only .04 seconds short of a DII provisional mark.

In the field events for the women, Laurie Ajavon and Ayanna LeBlanc both took first place in the long jump and shot put respectively. Ajavon recorded a jump of 18-11.75 feet in the long jump. LeBlanc won the shot put with a mark of 42-09 meters.

Chelsea O’Hanlon finished second in the Invitational in the high jump with a leap of 5-01.75 feet, a PSAC championship qualifying mark. O’Hanlon’s jump was a season best for her.

Also enjoying personal success for the women’s team was Laura Nientimp, who, in the 100 meters, bettered her personal best with a time of 12.64 seconds, which was a PSAC qualifying mark.  

Brooke McDaniel took first in the 400 meters with a time of 57.66 seconds. McDaniel also finished second in the 200 meters with a time of 25.71 seconds, bettering her PSAC-qualifying mark.

With one scheduled meet left before the PSAC championships, the Crimson Hawks will compete in the Paul Kaiser Classic in Shippensburg next weekend.