(Indiana, Pa.) - The Lock Haven University of Pennsylvania outdoor men’s and women’s track and field teams were both third at the PSAC West Challenge being hosted by Indiana (Pa.) University. A total of seven first place finishes were collected by Haven athletes and three NCAA qualifying marks were met over the weekend including one in the 5,000 meter run by junior Chris Cowan (Horseheads, N.Y./Thomas A. Edison) who shattered the school’s record in the process.
          Running on Friday evening at the Bison Outdoor Classic at Bucknell University, Cowan turned in a fourth-place finish with an NCAA provisional time of 14:31.12 in the 5,000 meters. His time, the best in the PSAC this season, also broke the 12-year old Haven record in the event by just under 16 seconds.
       The Bald Eagles placed third overall at the PSAC West Challenge on Saturday, totaling 154 points on the day. Slippery Rock University was first with 186.5 points followed by Indiana University in second place with 177 points. Edinboro University (73), Mansfield University (58.5), Clarion University (49) and California University (30) rounded out the field.
       Returning javelin national champion Nick Slotterback (Lewisburg/Lewisburg) placed first with a throw of 202’9” to provisionally qualify for a potential third trip to the NCAA meet. Fieldon Daubert (Annville/Annville-Cleona) was fourth in the javelin, also recording an nationals provisional distance of 194’7”.
         Tim Hite (Altoona/Altoona) led the pack of Bald Eagles finishing first through fourth in the 400 meter dash, winning with a time of 50.12. Keith Veldhuis (Thamesford, ONT/Ingersoll DCI) was second (50.22), Joe Smolenski (Manor/Hempfield Area) placed third (50.83) and Tom Skrivanek (St. James, N.Y./Smithtown) took fourth (51.56).
          Also scoring first-place finishes were Jim Dempsey (Blue Bell/Wissahickon) in the high jump with a clearance of 6’4-1/2” and Jacob Merrill (Kingsley/Montrose) in the 400 meter hurdles in a time of 54.89.
      In the women’s team race, the Lady Eagles came in third with 131 team points. Slippery Rock University (206) and Indiana University (198) finished first and second, respectively. Following Lock Haven, Clarion University (108), Edinboro University (79), Mansfield University (19) and California University (2) completed the field.
         Freshman Maggie Borden (Hanover/Delone Catholic) led the Lady Eagle effort, logging first-place finishes in both the 200 meter and 400 meter dashes. Borden won the 200 meters in 25.70 and the 400 meters in a time of 59.99.
       Another freshman, Richelle Reed (Georgetown/South Side Beaver), was the winner in the discus, throwing for a mark of 124’9”.
       Borden combined forces with Diane Sujansky (Plum/Plum), Laura Phillips (York/Central York) and Melissa Namey (New Kensington/Burrell) to take second place in the 4x400 meter relay with a time of 4:06.82. Phillips added a second-place finish in the 100 meters (12.87) while Namey was second in the 400 meter dash (1:01.17).
       The Lock Haven University men’s and women’s track and field teams are at Bucknell University next Sat., April 17.

*PSAC Qualifying Mark
#Lock Haven University School Record
%NCAA Provisional Qualifying mark