BETHLEHEM, Pa. – The Indiana (Pa.) track and field teams turned in a strong opening day Saturday at the PSAC Indoor Championships, highlighted by record-book performances and several standout finishes.
Matthew Cusatis opened the meet for the Crimson Hawks with a ninth-place finish in the men's long jump, recording a top mark of 6.96 meters. Junior Ashton Botzan followed with an 11th-place finish in the pole vault, clearing 4.38 meters for his best career finish at the conference championships.
Senior Renee Simmonds delivered one of the top performances of the day for IUP, finishing fourth in the women's pentathlon. The mark represents the highest finish in program history for a Crimson Hawk in the event.
The women's sprint events produced several strong showings and record-book marks. Sterlene Scott and Emma Laughlin both qualified for the finals in the 60 meters, with Scott clocking 7.67 seconds to post the third-fastest time in program history. Scott also reached the finals in the 200 meters, earning a runner-up finish with a time of 25.38 seconds, the second-fastest mark in IUP history.
In the 60-meter hurdles, Bryna Kelly and Kayla Rayne-Quinones both advanced to the finals. Kelly finished second in 8.85 seconds, recording the second-fastest time in program history and finishing just one-tenth of a second behind Millersville's Katelyn Murphy. Quinones placed among the top five with a time of 8.94 seconds, the third-fastest mark in program history.
The Crimson Hawks will conclude competition Sunday, with events scheduled to begin at 11:30 a.m.