University of Connecticut Athletics
University of Connecticut
Nittany Lion Challenge
Huskies nab several first-place finishes at Nittany Lion Challenge
1/12/2019 8:15:00 PM | Women's Track and Field
Accompanied by 10 personal records
State College, Pa.—The UConn Women's Track and field team officially commenced the 2019 indoor season with a strong statement at the annual Nittany Lion Challenge. The Huskies' business trip to Penn State included numerous personal bests in addition to eight top-5 and 20 top-10 finishes respectively with several first-place finishes in both the track and field events.
"We had a good first meet with 10 personal records and three event winners," said Head Coach J.J. Clark. "We had a good balance with our team performing well in the distances, field, and sprint areas."
Senior Susan Aneno nabbed UConn's initial first-place finish of the meet in the Mile Run with a time of 4:53.57. Fellow senior Amaris Blount and junior Divine Oladipo secured the next pair of first-place finishes in the 20lb. Weight Throw (19.04m) and Shot Put (16.37m) events respectively. All three student-athletes' finals were personal bests.
In the sprints, Taylor Woods' preliminary qualifying time of 7.71 doubled as a personal record and allowed her to move on to the finals where she finished seventh at 7.75. Jiana Baker and Shanelle Colmon set personal bests in the 200m Dash at ninth place—25.37 and fourth place—28.82 respectively.
Distance runners in the 3000m Run came together as the dual sport cross country student-athletes brought their fall success into the New Year and new season. The reigning American Athletic Conference Women's Cross Country Freshman of the Year, Jaclyn Gallery and teammate Talia Staiger both posted PR's with finishes of eighth—9:49.10 and 11t—10:10.19. Former AAC Women's Cross Country FOW in 2017, Mia Nahom led the way with a time of 9:48.71 to place seventh overall.
In the field events, the Huskies placed the most student-athletes in the Pole Vault and 20lb. Weight Throw. UConn finished sixth, seventh, and eighth in the Pole Vault with Emma Chee leading the way at 13.50m. In addition to Blount's amazing first-place finish in the 20lb. Weight Throw, she was joined by Chanell Botsis and Mikyla Rodger who finished fourth—17.38m and ninth—15.57m.
"I look forward to our next competition as we travel to Nashville next week," said Clark. Up next for UConn is the Vanderbilt Invite Friday, Jan. 18th through Saturday, Jan. 19th in Nashville, Tenn.
Below is a list of personal records set by the Huskies today.
| Name | Event | Result |
| Kelly Ward | Long Jump | 4.99m (16' 41/2") |
| Taylor Woods | 60m Dash | 7.71 |
| Susan Aneno | Mile | 4:53.57 |
| Jiana Baker | 200m Dash | 25.37 |
| Talia Staiger | 3k | 10:10.19 |
| Jaclyn Gallery | 3k | 9:49.10 |
| Mikyla Rodgers | Weight Throw 20lb. | 15.57m (51'1") |
| Celia Chacko | Mile | 5:14.65 |
| Sophia Podeszwa | 60m Hurdles | 9.59 |
| Shanelle Colmon | 200m Dash | 24.82 |
Top finishes
| Name | Event | Result |
| Susan Aneno | Mile | 4:53.57 |
| Divine Oladipo | Shot Put | 16.37m |
| Amaris Blount | Weight Throw 20lb. | 19.04m |
| Cherrington, Aneno, Colmon, Parm | 4x400m Relay | 3:50.13 (Third-place finish |
Players Mentioned
