The Penn State Greater Allegheny Track and Field team kicked off their Outdoor Track and Field season on Saturday at the Cal-U Early Bird Invitational. They had a strong showing with two different athletes finishing top in their heat in their events.
The day started off with the field competitions as the PSUGA throwers took the circle for the first time this season. Cameron Shaw (South Park, PA./South Park HS) was the lone Male thrower finishing 34th tossing a distance of 6.55 meters. Raeann Sleigh (North Huntington, PA./Norwin HS) led the way for the woman finishing 28th with a distance of 7.19 meters while Kristina Sequeria (Norwalk, CT./HS) finished 32nd throwing 6.02 meters.
The field events continued as PSUGA competed in the Long Jump for the first time in school history. It was Freshman Jesse Vargo (North Huntington, PA./Norwich HS) competing for PSUGA and he finished the day 24th with a distance of 5.01 meters. The meet would then move to the track, where PSUGA would really start to shine.
Up first it was the 4x100 meter featuring James Plez (Philadelphia, PA./Northeast HS), Chris Clinton (Pittsburgh, PA./Allderdice HS), Davin Manfredi (Pleasant Hills, PA./Thomas Jefferson HS), and Vargo. The team ended up finishing in 10th place with a time of 48.75.
The first star on the track for PSUGA was Namy Makiese (Pittsburgh, PA./Allderdice HS). He started the day by winning his heat in the 400-Meter with a time of 59.37 placing him 33rd overall. Makiese also competed in the 200-Meter Dash finishing in 25.52 seconds good for 33rd place.
Makis Rivera (Pittsburgh, PA./Imani Christian Academy) was up next in the 800-Meter and had an impressive performance in his first time out. He won his heat in the 800-Meter finishing 24th with a time of 2:09.27. It wasa strong start for the junior as he looks to continue to improve.
On the women's side, Eladia Kennedy (McKeesport, PA./Imani Christian Academy) wrapped up the day winning her heat in the women's 200-Meter Dash with a time of 29.02 as she cracked the top 20. Kennedy also competed in one othet event posting a top 20 finish in the 100-Meter with a time of 14.26.
With Saturday's meet in the books, it has been a strong season so far for the PSUGA Track and Field Team. In their inaugural season, they have had several athletes already qualify for the United States Collegiate Athletic Association national meet in late April.
The PSUGA Track and Field team has a week off before returning to action on Saturday April 6th when they head to the Slippery Rock University Dave Labor Invitational at 9 a.m.
