Westminster, PA. – With the United States Collegiate Athletic Association just two weeks away, things are heating up as athletes are trying to qualify for Nationals in Vermont on Saturday April 27th. For Penn State Greater Allegheny, the next step was at the Westminster Invitational on Saturday where Sophomore Eladia Kennedy (Pittsburgh, PA./Imani Christian Academy) led the way with two Top 20 finishes in her two events on the day.
Kennedy competed in the 200-Meter Dash to start the day and came in 19th with a time of 28.92 in the field of 38 different runners. She would then follow that up with a new personal record in the 100-Meter Dash finished 20th with a time of 13.98. It is the second straight meet that Kennedy has posted two top 20 finishes in a meet and she already has her sights set on Nationals where she will be competing in the 200-Meter Dash.
The Men’s Long Jump kicked off the days with freshmen James Plez (Philadelphia, PA./Northeast HS) and Steeve Djomo (Pittsburgh, PA./Woodland HS) both competing in the event. Plez led the way finishing 31st with a distance of 4.64 meters and Djomo came in right behind him with a distance of 4.18 meters. The Men’s Shot Put finished the field events for the day with Jalen Bolger (Philadelphia, PA./Philadelphia Electrical Technician Charter School) would place 46th posting a PR distance of 7.23 meters.
Things shifted back to the track as all of PSUGA’s seven National qualifiers were in action in their respective events. PSUGA had five competitors in the 200-Meter Dash where Namy Makiese (Pittsburgh, PA./Allderdice HS) led the way finishing 50th with a time of 25.08. He was followed up by Plez (25.34), Chris Clinton (Pittsburgh, PA./Allderdice) (26.11), Bolger (26.67), and Djomo (27.43).
In the Men’s 400-Meter Makis Rivera (Pittsburgh, PA./Imani Christian Academy) led the way with a time of 57.18. DJ Impavido (Pittsburgh, PA./Trinity Christian HS) competed in the 800-Meter for the first time this season rounding out the day and finished 34th with a time of 2:15.22.
There is one more meet left before PSUGA heads to Vermont Tech for the 2019 USCAA National Meet. PSUGA already has seven athletes qualified for the event and more athletes look to add their names to the list before the big meet. Those already qualified for the event are:
James Plez
Davin Manfredi
Jesse Vargo
Namy Makiese
Makis Rivera
DJ Impavido
Eladia Kennedy
PSUGA Track & Field will be back in action on Thursday when they go to Slippery Rock for the Slippery Rock Open Invitational. The meet will start at 9 a.m. at the Mihalik-Thompson field on the campus of Slippery Rock.