University of Connecticut Athletics
University of Connecticut
Nittany Lion Challenge
Four First-Place Finishes Highlight Nittany Lion Classic
1/16/2016 12:00:00 AM | Women's Track and Field
STATE COLLEGE, Pa. - The UConn women's track and field team continued its impressive start to the 2016 indoor season with four first-place finishes at the Nittany Lion Challenge, hosted by Penn State, on Saturday, Jan. 16.
To view complete individual results from the unscored meet, please .
"We had a good meet, which included wins in the 60m, 600m, 800m and the DMR," said head coach J.J. Clark. "We had a really good showing in a multitude of events and I think, collectively, we made progress over the week."
After running a 7.61 in the 60m dash prelims, junior Taylor Anderson won the final, checking in at 7.50 seconds, which marked her best indoor mark since the 2014 campaign. Senior standout Deysha Smith-Jenkins nabbed seventh in the event with a 7.71 second results.
Senior Laura Williamson collected a gold medal in the 800m run, finishing in a collegiate-best 2:11.32. Fellow seniors Emily Howard (2:17.23) and Kat Vodopia (2:19.16) took fifth and ninth, respectively. Alexis Panisse led the way for the team in the 1,000m run, earning a seventh-place finish with a 2:48.15 time.
UConn collected four of the top six spots in the 600m run, led by a first-place results from senior Paris Taft (1:31.30). Junior transfer Sydnee Over (1:32.04) was third, while Katie Foley (1:33.27) and Lisa Zimmer (1:33.99) took fifth and sixth, respectively.
Smith-Jenkins continued a strong afternoon when she picked up a bronze medal in the 200m dash final with a 24.50 second finish.
Senior leader Emily Durgin was the team's top finisher in the mile run, checking in at 4:50.25, which was good for fifth. Teammate Hannah Parker took 16th with a 5:00.07 finish. UConn's 'A' 4x400m relay squad (Foley, Over, Saija Bikanova, Smith-Jenkins) took fifth overall at 3:51.48.
The Huskies' DMR squad (Abby Mace, Kelsey Swanson, Maggie Christe, Haley Hasty) earned the team's fourth first-place finish with a 11:43.80 result in the event.
On the field, Sarah Bowens continued a strong open to the 2016 season, taking third in the long jump with a 5.91m leap, while teammate Odrine Belot collected seventh with a 5.82m finish. Freshman Nicole Kelly earned a top-10 finish in the pole vault, finishing with a 3.39m attempt.
The Huskies enjoyed success in the weight throw, led by a 17.57m toss from sophomore Kelli Thomas, while Megan Chapman set a new personal-best with a throw of 17.33m. Senior Kelly Myers delivered a 10th-place finish in the shot put, finishing the meet with 13.01m toss.
Saturday's meet marked the first time the program has competed at Penn State during the regular season since 2014 at the PSU National.
The Huskies return to the road next weekend when they participate in the NYC Gotham Cup set for Friday, Jan. 22 in Staten Island, N.Y.
Players Mentioned
