EDINBORO, PA. – The IUP men's and women's track and field teams got underway in the 2020 PSAC Indoor Track and Field Championships on Saturday at Edinboro University. The Crimson Hawks had several athletes in competition on day one of the championships, with some athletes looking to advance to the finals of their events on Sunday, while others had their eyes on an individual podium spot. With each top eight finish earning points in the team competition, several Crimson Hawks were able to help the men's and women's teams to start their challenge for a team title as well.
 
Meet Notes
>> The Crimson Hawks have 34 athletes between their two teams in action this weekend at the PSAC Championships
>> The IUP men's track and field team has earned 17 points through the first day of competition.
>> The IUP women's track and field team picked up 11 points thus far.
>> The Crimson Hawks claimed six top eight finishes on Saturday, including two silver medals.

Top Performers
>>The IUP men's track and field team earned their first points of the meet in the Distance Medley Relay. IUP's team of Evan Weaver, Eliezier Silvestre, Mitch Chunta, and Nathan Skodi finished eighth overall with a time of 10:55.37 to earn a point for the Crimson Hawks.
>> Sprinter Dre Carr got his Championship weekend off to a great start by finishing first overall in the men's 60m meter dash preliminaries. Carr ended the day with a meet best time of 6.78 seconds. Not only did Carr earn an NCAA provisional Mark with that time, but he also set a new PSAC Championship meet record. Carr's time of 6.78 seconds edged out the previous record of 6.80 seconds set by IUP's own Julius Rivera set in 2016.
>> The Crimson Hawks added to their day one points tally in a big way thanks to Sam Lenze and Noah Mandel's performances in the men's 5,000 meters. Lenze finished second overall with a time of 15:26.08 setting a new personal best in the race. Mandel also set a new personal best in the 5,000 meters on Saturday. He finished with a time of 15:27.84 to earn fourth place in the race.
>> The IUP men's track and field team wrapped up the first day of competition by picking up more points in another relay. The Crimson Hawks 4x800 meter relay team of Evan Weaver, Mitch Chunta, Isaac Evans, and Lawrence Anderson cam in 6th overall white a time of 8:34.05
>> With three events on her schedule this weekend, Nickeela Austin will be one of the busier members of the IUP women's track and field team this weekend. Austin got off to a sterling start on Saturday by medaling in the finals of the women's long jump. Austin had a best distance of 5.75 meters to earn second overall.
>> Despite fielding a young team that included four freshmen, the IUP women's track and field team managed to secure 6th place, and 4 points in the distance medley relay. Emma Alexy, Dajour Jones, Erin McGrath, and Paige Wess combined to complete the race in a time of 12:55.27.
 
Team Standings After Day 1 (Men)
1) East Stroudsburg 60.5
2) Slippery Rock 39
3) Shippensburg 35
4) Kutztown 24.5
5) Seton Hill 18
6) Indiana (Pa.) 17
7) West Chester 13
8) Pitt.-Johnstown 11
9) California (Pa.) 9
10) Bloomsburg 5
11) Mansfield 2
 
Team Standings After Day 1 (Women)
1) West Chester 42
2) Slippery Rock 38.5
3) Seton Hill 34.5
4) Edinboro 29 5) Kutztown 25
6) Millersville 23
7) Shippensburg 19.5
8) Bloomsburg 14
8) Lock Haven 14
10) Indiana (Pa.) 11
11) East Stroudsburg 10.5
12) Mansfield 5 1
2) California (Pa.) 5
14) Pitt.-Johnstown 2

NCAA Qualifiers
>> In addition to setting the new meet record in the men's 60m dash, Dre Carr also earned a provisional NCAA qualifying mark with his time.
>> Nickeela Austin's performance in the women's long jump also earned her an NCAA provisional qualifying.
 
Up Next
>> The Crimson Hawks remain in Edinboro for day two of the 2020 PSAC Indoor Track and Field Championships
 
Follow
For up-to-date game information, visit www.IUPAthletics.com and follow IUP track and field on Twitter @IUPCrimsonHawk and @IUPtrack_XC.