INDIANA, Pa. – Junior pole vaulter
DJ Horton (Kane, Pa./Kane Area) wrapped up a successful weekend by breaking his own IUP indoor record by clearing 5.03 meters at the SPIRE Midwest Open Saturday in Geneva, Ohio.
The meet was one of two for IUP track & field athletes, as the Crimson Hawks totaled 10 qualifying marks at SPIRE and the Penn State National Open in University Park, Pa.
Horton broke his own record of 5.00 meters (16-04.75) that he set at the Kent State Tune-Up on Feb. 18, 2017. It was also good for first place at the meet, besting Mount Union's Matt Keim who finished with a height of 4.88 meters.
It's the second time he's broken his own indoor record, originally setting it at 4.93 meters (16-02) in winning the 2016 Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Championship in Edinboro back in 2016.
The All-American also bettered his NCAA Division II provisional qualifying mark with his Saturday height.
Horton finished fourth overall at the Penn State National Friday evening with a height of 4.95 meters.
Crimson Hawks at SPIRE
Also hitting an NCAA provisional mark Saturday was sprinter
Julius Rivera (Monroevilla, Pa./Gateway), who finished second overall in the 60 meters with a time of 6.88 in the finals. It was the second fastest time in the PSAC this season.
In addition to Horton and Rivera, five more IUP athletes hit PSAC qualifying marks in their respective events.
Christian Jones (Uniontown, Pa./Laurel Highlands),
Ricky Fayad (Hookstown, Pa./South Side) and
John Capitosti (Indiana, Pa./Homer-Center) each hit qualifying marks in the high jump, placing fourth, sixth, and 15th place, respectively. Jones leapt 1.96 meters, Fayad 1.91, and Capitosti 1.86.
Justin Jones (Lansdown, Pa./Cardinal O'hara) finished 13th overall in the 800 meters with a time of 1:58.02, and
Noah Mandel (Erie, Pa./Harbor Creek) was 27th in the 3000 meters at 8:59.2.
Second day at Penn State National
After Horton's performance on Friday, three IUP athletes continued the success in Happy Valley Saturday with PSAC qualifying marks.
Heather Sternby (Meadville, Pa./Meadville) finished 14th overall in the women's 200 meters with a time of 59.62.
Charles Wilson-Adams (Tyrone, Pa./Tyrone) was 12th in the high jump with a height of 1.96 meters, and
Derek Noll (Harrisburg, Pa./Bishop McDevitt) finished 20th overall in the 800 meters at 1:57.45.
Up next
IUP athletes return in a week and head to Youngstown, Ohio for the second time this season to compete in the two-day YSU National Mid-Major Invitational. Events begin on Friday, Feb. 2.
Follow
For up-to-date meet information, visit www.IUPAthletics.com and follow IUP track & field on Twitter @IUPCrimsonHawk and @ IUPtrack_XC.
