Slippery Rock, PA. - it was a big day for the Penn State Greater Allegheny track and field team as they added two more qualifiers to their list of athletes heading to the United States Collegiate Athletic Association National championship at the Slippery Rock open on Thursday. Thrower Cameron Shaw (South Park, PA./South Park HS) and Sprinter Chris Clinton (Pittsburgh, PA./Allderdice HS) each qualified in theur events bringing the list of PSUGA competitors to nine.
Clinton started his day in the 100-meter posting a personal record of 12.22 seconds beating his previous timeby b0.15 seconds. He would then join a group of five PSUGA runners in the 200 meter. He finished fourth in the heat with a Time of 24 .80 seconds.
That Mark helped him add his name to the list of qualifiers and set a new personal record by 0.96 seconds. He finished second overall for PSUGA finishing behind Namy Makiese (Pittsburgh, PA./Allderdice) who set a mark of 24.70 seconds.
Up next for the new set of qualifiers was Shaw who after having a down to meet his last time out came back on fire on Thursday. He set a new personal record throwing 7.92 meters. That beats his previous mark buy just over a full meter and gave him the ticket to go to Vermont.
Shaw is the ninth member of the track team to qualify for the USCAA Nationals. Head coach Greg Schmitt is proud of the work is guys have put in and only sees the program continue to grow.
Some of PSUGA's athletes who had already qualified for for Nationals made their presents felt as well at the meet. James Plez (Philadelphia, PA./Northeast HS) and teammate Jesse Vargo (North Huntington, PA./Irwin HS) both made the finals in men's long jump placing 7th and 9th respectively. Both set new PRS with plez jumping 5.83 m and Vargo coming in right behind him with a distance of 5.20 meters.
Makis Rivera (Pittsburgh, PA./Imani Christian Academy) got his tune up in the 800m coming in with a Time of 2:10.00 while Eladia Kennedy (Pittsburgh, PA./Imani Christian Academy) competed in both the 100m and 200m and finished with times of 13.70 and 28.14. The men's 4 x 400 meter relay led by Vargo, plez, Rivera, and DJ impavido chat with their strong time finishing at 3:48.68 as they get set for Nationals next week.
On the field side Raeann Sleith (North Huntington, PA./Norwin HS) and Kristina Sequeira (Norwalk, CT.) each completed in the women's shot put. Sleith led the way with a distance a 7.11 meters while Sequeira came in at 6.84 meters. Overall every athlete improved in their respective events and even for those who didnt make Nationals it was a strong end to the regular season.
PSUGA will head up to Nationals on Thursday April 25th ahead of a practice day on April 26th. The USCAA national meet will be held at the University of Vermont track in Burlington Vermont on Saturday April 27th beginning at 9 a.m.
