Jan. 29, 2008
It was a record-setting week for the Patriot League's Indoor Track and Field student-athletes, as several school records fell. Most teams sent runners to the Penn State National Invite, where some of the best teams and individuals from across the country came to compete. Navy's Paul Harris (male runner), Jacqui Charnigo (female field) and Andrew Hanko (male rookie) each earned a weekly award. Army was close behind with two awards, as Brandon Lewis (male field) and Meghan Curran (female runner) each earned recognition. Rounding out the weekly award voting was Janica Austin from Lafayette, who was named female rookie of the week.
Patriot League Indoor Track and Field Release - 1.29.08 
M-F Athletic Male Track Performer of the Week
Paul Harris, Navy Sr., Fairburn, Ga.
Harris continued his scorching start to 2008 by posting one individual and one relay victory at last weekend's Penn State National Open. The senior ran the 800m (invitational section) in a time of 1:49.29, which is an NCAA provisional-qualifying time. He was also a part of the distance medley and 4x400m relays that posted season-best, IC4A times.
M-F Athletic Female Track Performer of the Week
Meghan Curran, Army Jr., Chelmsford, Mass.
Curran posted a time of 17:21.52 in the 5000m run at last weekend's Penn State National Open, good enough for a sixth-place finish in the invitational section. The time was an ECAC-qualifying mark, and was the sixth fastest time in Army history in the event.
M-F Athletic Male Field Performer of the Week
Brandon Lewis, Army Sr., Leesburg, Va.
Lewis earns the first weekly award of his career following an outstanding performance at the Penn State National Open last weekend. Lewis placed third in the Heptathlon with a score of 5,105 points, but the score was the highest total for collegiate finishers. The score broke his own school record of 5,062 points, and was an IC4A-qualifying mark as well.
M-F Athletic Female Field Performer of the Week
Jacqui Charnigo, Navy Sr., Medina, Ohio
Charnigo helped lead the Midshipmen to a first-place finish at the GMU Patriot Games last weekend, by finishing first in the pole vault and second in the high jump. Her mark of 3.95m in the pole vault was an NCAA provisional qualifying mark and broke the school record in the event as well. She currently ranks No. 16 nationally in the event.
M-F Athletic Male Rookie of the Week
Andrew Hanko, Navy Fr., Montville, N.J.
Hanko earned his first career weekly award with a victory in the mile race at the Penn State National Open last weekend. The newcomer ran the race in a time of 4:09.99, which was an IC4A-qualifying mark. This was the first time that he had run this distance at the collegiate level.
M-F Athletic Female Rookie of the Week
Janica Austin, Lafayette Fr., Trenton, N.J.
Austin earns her first weekly award with a record-breaking performance at the Penn State National Open last weekend. The freshman ran the 60m hurdles in a time of 8.72, which was also an ECAC-qualifying mark.
Honorable Mention
Jon Anderson, Army
Jr., Cinnaminson, N.J.
Anderson finished first in the 3000m run at last weekend's Penn State National Invite, running the race in an IC4A-qualifying time of 8:22.17.
Kerry Boyle, Bucknell
Jr., Hazleton, Pa.
Boyle placed third in the invitational section of the 400m dash at the Penn State National Invite last week. His time of 47.56 was an IC4A-qualifying mark, and also set a new school record in the event.
Lyle Tolli, Colgate
So., Lockport, N.Y.
Tolli finished first in the 1000m and second in the mile at the annual Class of `32 Invitational last weekend. Both were IC4A-qualifying marks, and his time of 2:26.94 was a new school record in the 1000m.
Osasumwen Izevbigie, Lafayette
Jr., Springdale, Md.
Izevbigie turned in two eighth-place finishes at the highly competitive Penn State National Invite last weekend. Her distances of 14.27m in the shot put and 17.23m in the wieght throw were both well above ECAC-qualifying standards in each event.
Patriot League Notebook
Rivalry Weekend
All eight Patriot League teams will be in action again this weekend, but a pair of rivalry meets highlight the weekend slate. On Fri., Feb 1, Lehigh will travel a few miles down the road to take on Lafayette in their annual dual meet. On Saturday, Army travels to Navy for the annual Star Meet.
Navy's Harris Still Among NCAA Leaders
Navy senior Paul Harris currently holds the nation's second fastest 800m time so far this season. His time of 1:49.29 this past weekend places him at No. 2 on the list, trailing only Alex McClary of Arkansas. McClary ran the 800m in a time of 1:49.28.
Quotable
"Jacqui was amazing today - she was so strong. She has great knee drive and just missed automatically qualifying for the national championship (13'9-1/4", 4.20 meters) on her second try."
"There were several better performances and quite a few personal bests today. Things are starting to come together and peak at the right time."
Navy Women's Head Coach Carla Criste
For More Information
IC4A/ECAC and NCAA Indoor Qualifying standards can be found on the Track and Field page on the Patriot League website.
Just Around the Corner
The 2008 Patriot League Championship Meet will be held Fri., Feb. 22 through Sun., Feb. 24 at Bucknell's Gerhard Fieldhouse.
Team Notebooks
American
The Eagles sent runners to the GMU Patriot Games last weekend, with the men coming in seventh of 12 teams and the women 11th of 13. Kate Lilley led the way for the women, as her time of 5:08.71 in the mile race earned the Eagles their lone victory of the day. The time was the fastest mile time in the League so far this season. For the men, Morgan Block cracked the AU top-10 list in both the 200m and 400m races.
Army
The Black Knights competed at the PSU National Invite and the Army Open last weekend, turning in several outstanding performances. The men had three IC4A-qualifying performances turned in, as Jon Anderson (3000m), Brandon Lewis (Heptathlon) and Alfred McDaniel (triple jump) each reached the standard. Meghan Curran led the women with a sixth place finish in the 5000m run, which qualified her for the ECAC standard.
Bucknell
The Bison hosted the Bison Open and Multi, and also sent runners down the road to Penn State last weekend. Top performances were turned in by Kerry Boyle, who finished third in the 400m invitational section with a school-record time of 47.56 seconds. Teammate Timothy Medlock turned in an IC4A mark in the shot put, reaching a distance of 15.73m. Pacing the women at Penn State was junior Megan Hathaway, who finished sixth in the 500m and 10th in the 4x400m relay.
Colgate
The Raiders hosted the annual Class of `32 Invitational last weekend, welcoming a total of 11 teams to Hamilton, N.Y. Both the men and women finished first in the eleven-team field. Sophomore Lyle Tolli turned in a record-setting performance in the 1000m, setting a new school record with a time of 2:26.94. Tolli also finished second in the mile, and qualified for the IC4A's in both events. The women were paced by two first-place finishes by junior Curry Knox, who was named the Most Valuable Player at the meet after winning the 55m hurdles and 55m dash.
Holy Cross
The Crusaders sent runners to the Reebok Boston Indoor Games on Saturday, finishing sixth of 13 teams on the men's side and eighth of 11 teams on the women's side. Sebastian Fidelus finished first in the 800m race in a time of 1:54.17, which was an IC4A qualifying time. Thomas Harrison (long jump, triple jump) and Rachel Amaral (weight throw) each turned in top-three performances as well for Holy Cross.
Lafayette
The Leopards sent runners to Bucknell and Penn State last weekend. Kyle Clayton led the way at the Bison Open and Multi, finishing first in the Heptathlon with a school record 4,769 points. At Penn State, junior Osasumwen Izevbigie shattered the ECAC qualifying standard in both the shot put and weight throw, while freshman Janica Austin also reached the ECAC mark in the 60m hurdles.
Lehigh
The Mountain Hawks hosted the Covert Classic and Multi this past weekend. The men finished first of 10 teams while the women finished fourth of 11 teams. Leading the way for the men was sophomore Franklin Johnson, who placed first in the triple jump and 11th in the long jump. His distance of 14.36m in the triple jump was an IC4A mark.
Navy
The Midshipmen sent runners to the PSU National Invite, as well as the GMU Patriot Games last weekend. Paul Harris (800m, DMR, 4x400m), Christopher Bordino (weight throw) and Andrew Hanko (mile) each turned in IC4A-qualifying times at the PSU event, while Jacqui Charnigo broke a school record and reached the ECAC mark in the pole vault at the GMU Patriot Games.
