Penn State Harrisburg opened its 2018 Outdoor Men's and Women's Track & Field season at the Jim Taylor Invitational at Susquehanna University on March 31st. The Lions got off to a strong start having several athletes break school records and produce times and distance good enough to qualify for championships later in the season.
Indoor Track & Field All-American Ashley Williams got her Outdoor season off to a strong start taking second in the 100 Meter Hurdles with a time of 15.05 seconds. That time is currently the best in the CAC. Williams also took sixth in the 400 Meter Hurdles with a time of 1:13.25.
Sarah Lehman got off to a strong start as well. Lehman took first in both the Long Jump with a leap of 5.35 Meters and Triple Jump traveling 11.38 Meters, setting school records. Lehman holds the top spot in the CAC in both events.
Rae Rae Taylor had a busy day for the Lions taking third in the Long Jump with a leap of 5.28 Meters. Taylor would later set a school record in the Javelin with a toss of 38.10 Meters.
Jessica Vergara led the Lions in the throwing events taking tenth in the Discuss with a toss of 27.23 Meters and taking twelfth in the Shot Put with a throw of 9.33 Meters. Abrianna Hamby added a Hammer Throw of 33.71 Meters, which places her ninth in CAC competition so far.
Afterwards Head Coach Danielle Lynch said, "I am proud at our tremendous season opener performances. We are off to a great start with several CAC and ECAC qualifiers as well as several athletes being ranked in the top 20 in the country."
The Lions will be back in action on Saturday April 7th at Millersville University.