IUP track have success at Dave Labor Invitational

The Crimson Hawks racked up seven first-place finishes as well as 12 PSAC championship meet qualifying times during the Dave Labor Invitational at Slippery Rock Saturday.

    For the women, IUP had a total of seven women qualify for the PSAC Championships along with 12 top-five finishes. Laura Nientemp led the way for the Crimson Hawks, qualifying in the 100 meters with a time of 12.86 seconds, good for second overall. Nientemp finished second overall behind teammate Brooke McDaniel in the 200 meters with a time of 27.12 seconds to McDaniel PSAC qualifying time of 25.82 seconds.

    “The time (12.86) is not the time I hoped to be running at this point in the season,” Nientemp said.” “Though time is a very crucial aspect when you are a sprinter, my race itself felt great. I have been running against good competition all season. Second place is okay, but we are always striving to come in first and win our races.”

    “Hopefully my times will better reflect my efforts in the weeks to come,” she added.

    Along with McDaniel and Nientemp, Ayanna LeBlanc took home first place with a toss of 39.74 meters in the discus, a PSAC qualifying mark, and Julia Hunnell also took home first place in the high jump with a mark of 1.57 meters.

    Krista Matsko and Antonnette Acosta also qualified for the PSAC Championships. Matsko had a time of 15.88 seconds in the 100 meter hurdles and Acosta had a time of 1:07.89 seconds in the 400 meter hurdles. Shona Young, who had a height of 3.10 meters in the pole vault, also qualified for the PSAC Championships.

    For the men’s team, Ross Moreau had a pair of PSAC qualifying marks with a pair of top-two finishes. Moreau won the discus throw with a toss of 46.42 meters and finished second in the disc with a throw of 15.55 meters.

    Troy Zangaro finished second in the 400 meters with a PSAC qualifying time of 50.61 seconds.  Jared Long also had a qualifying time in the 200 meters at 22.80, good for fourth in the invitational.

    “I feel like I am ahead of where I was at this point last season,” Long said. “I just need that perfect run to give myself a big push and put myself in good position for Nationals.”

    “I get a chance to run on my home track this week, and to compete at the Penn Relays the following week,” Long added. “I'm aware that this is the point in the season where it's getting down to the ‘meat’ of it all. I just need to keep putting in the work and moving forward, and hopefully run my best races of the year as the bigger meets draw nearer.”

    The Crimson Hawks return to competition this weekend, hosting the Ed Fry Invitational at George P. Miller Stadium on Saturday.