April 29, 2008

Women's Co-Track Athletes of the Week

Angela Bizzarri, Illinois
So., Mason, Ohio / Mason
Bizzarri dominated the 5,000-meter field at the Brutus Hamilton Invitational last weekend to claim the event by nearly 45 seconds.  Her regional qualifying time of 16:16.43 currently ranks ninth in the country and stands as the second fastest run in Illinois history.  The sophomore has now qualified for regionals in both the 5,000 meters and the 1,500 meters (4:19.95).  Bizzarri takes home her first career weekly award.

Last ILL Track Athlete of the Week: LaNeisha Waller (4/1/08)

Shana Cox, Penn State
Sr., Westbury, N.Y. / Holy Trinity
Cox and the Penn State 4x400-meter relay team stepped up to the level of competition this weekend taking home first place at the prestigious Penn Relays.  The quartet of Dominique Blake, Aleesha Barber, Gayle Hunter and Cox posted a school-record time of 3:31.44, breaking the mark by .31 set at last year's regional meet.  The time currently stands as the third best time in the country.  Cox ran the anchor leg for this race and distanced herself from the nation leading LSU squad, to win the event by nearly two seconds. She recorded a 51.7 leg split which proved to be the fastest in the entire race.  The Nittany Lion senior garners her fourth career Track Athlete of the Week.

Last PSU Track Athlete of the Week: Shana Cox (4/15/08)

Women's Field Athlete of the Week

Kara Patterson, Purdue
Jr., LaCenter, Wash. / Skyview
Patterson hurled the second-longest javelin throw in the history of the Penn Relays last Thursday, to win the Championship of America.  Her mark of 184-00 (56.10) fell six centimeters shy of the meet record and nine centimeters short of her career best.  The throw stands as the third best throw in the nation and surpassed the "B" standard for the 2008 Beijing Olympics.  Patterson is honored with her third career weekly accolade.

Last PUR Field Athlete of the Week: Astin Steward (4/10/07)