Women’s Track and Field Takes Second at Mason Dixon Championships

NEWPORT NEWS, Va. – The Penn State Behrend women's track and field team placed second out of eight teams at the Mason-Dixon Outdoor Championships on Saturday.

For the women, the second place finish was the program's best ever.

Behrend was led by Katie Spade (Warren, PA/Warren), who was an individual winner in two events and qualified for ECAC's in another.  Spade won both the 800m and 1500m with times of 2:21.39 and 4:51.59, respectively.  She also came in third place in the 400m to qualify for the ECAC championships.  For her efforts, Spade was named the Co-Track Athlete of the Meet.

Victoria Harwood (Fair Haven, NJ/Rumon-Fair Haven) had a great day on the track as well.  Harwood won the 400m and qualified for ECAC's with a time of 58.74.  She had a fifth place finish in the 200m at 26.20, qualifying her for ECAC's in that event too.

In the 5000m, Catie Bertges (Erie, PA/Collegiate Academy) brought home another first place for the Lions.  Bertges crossed the line at 18:24.43, a time good enough for ECAC's. 

Junior Haley Hughes (Cochranton, PA/Cochranton) continued her undefeated season in the 3000m steeplechase.  Hughes earned a trip to the ECAC Outdoor Championships by taking first at 11:50.53.

Rounding out the top performers on the track was Alex Paget-Blanc (Paris, France/Aelene Boucher).  Paget-Blanc took second in the 400m hurdles at 1:06.75.

In the field, three athletes had excellent performances.  April McDermott (Atco, NJ/Hammonton) won the discus throw at 36.36m and took third in the javelin at 29.55m.  Stephanie Stoughton (Chicora, PA/Karns City) was close behind McDermott in the javelin at 27.88m for fourth place.  In the triple jump, Corinne Conto (Bruin, PA/Karns City) took third place after hitting 10.33m.

Behrend will be back in action on Friday at the Allegheny Gator Invitational.