TF sets more records, gearing up for USCAAs

The Penn State Fayette track and field team continued its preparation for the United States Collegiate Athletic Association (USCAA) championships with a good showing at the Thiel College Tomcat Invitational Saturday.

"It was a solid effort by the team, especially with a cold and rainy start," said head coach Joe Carei. "We are figuring out everyone's strengths and looking to improve them for the USCAA meet.  Mitch (Minda) ran a masterful race in the 5k by working his way up, taking the lead on the ninth lap and never relinquishing it.  Gavin (Postlethwait) had a good day despite having to high jump in pouring rain.  He also finished top for us in the 100 meters, the 400 meters and anchored our record setting 4x100 meters.  Chloe (Kalp) ran great as usual as well."

Minda (Elizabeth, PA/Elizabeth Forward HS) shattered the school record in the 5,000 meters by 20 seconds with a time of 16:34.  The men's 4x100 meters team took third and set a school record in a time of 48.2 seconds.  The team consisted of Cooper Salvay (LaBelle, PA/Brownsville HS), Jake Noel (Greater Latrobe, PA/Greater Latrobe, PA), James Plez (Philadelphia, PA/Northeast HS) and Postlethwait (New Martinsville, WV/Magnolia HS).  Postlethwait also took fourth in the high jump (1.70 meters), set a school record in the 400 meters in a time of 55.1 seconds and ran the 100 meters in 11.95 seconds.  Kalp (Melcroft, PA/Connellsville HS) finished fourth in the women's race in the 5,000 meters in 20:27 and ran the 1,500 meters in 5:44 while Drew Erdman (Greensburg, PA/Greensburg Salem HS) finished sixth in the men's steeplechase in 11:46.

Top marks for the team in other events include Salvay running the 200 meters in 24.3 seconds, Alex Gostev (Fair Lawn, NJ) ran the 1,600 meters in 5:04, Julie Seliga (Smock, PA/Uniontown HS) ran the 200 meters in 2:51, Noel threw the javelin 23.7 meters and Jen Zelenick (Fredericktown, PA/Beth-Center HS) threw the shot put 7.85 meters and the discuss 17.78 meters.

The team returns to action Wednesday, April 20 when it heads to Bethany College for the John Falconi Invitational to close out the schedule prior to the USCAA Nationals on Friday, April 29 and Saturday, April 30.

For more information on the Penn State track and field team, go to https://www.psfathletics.com/sports/track/index or follow the team on Instagram @fayetteathletics.