Women's Track & Field

Kutztown begins second half with solid effort at Golden Bear Invitational

KUTZTOWN, PA. (January 15, 2010) – The Kutztown University women’s track and field team enjoyed a brilliant beginning to the second half of the season by performing well and claiming five first-place finishes during the annual Golden Bear Invitational at Keystone Field House Friday night. (MEET RESULTS) | (KUTZTOWN RESULTS)

With a packed house looking on, the meet featured a sparkling debut, a scintillating return and several hours of screaming spectators, coaches and participants. Overall, the Golden Bears used the meet as a springboard to what could be a memorable indoor and outdoor season.

“This was a good meet for us to shake off the rust from being away for a month,” Kutztown women’s track and field coach Ray Hoffman said. “It’s a low-key meet that had some of the schools from our conference in it. So this is a good starting point for us as we begin the second half of the season.”

First-place finishers for the Golden Bears included sophomore Brooke Mathews (Reedsville/Indian Valley), freshman Shante Grayer (Allentown/William Allen), junior Ashley Pinter (Bethlehem/Liberty), and junior Keri Brown (Southampton, NJ/Seneca).

Mathews prevailed in the 200-meter run (27.61 seconds). Grayer won the 55-meter dash (7.61). Pinter won the 20-pound weight throw (44 feet, 4 inches) and shot put (41-2.50). Brown, running for the first time in her career in this meet, swooshed to victory in the 800-meter run (2:21.61).

Finishing behind Brown in the 200-meter dash was junior Sarah Messner (Maple Glen/Upper Dublin). Other Kutztown women who earned second-place finishes were sophomore Rachel Hunte (Chester Springs/Downingtown East) in the 500-meter run (1:21.59), freshman April Doyle (Greenfield Twp./Lakeland) in the weight throw (42-51/2), junior Katie Colburn (Hanover/South Western) in the pentathlon (2,768 points) and senior Rachel Weigle (Red Lion/Red Lion) in the pole vault (10 feet).

Hunte and Brown along with senior Jessica Schlecter (Chalfont/Central Bucks South) and junior Lynn Lisofsky (Wilkes-Barre/Coughlin) were also second in the 4 x 400-meter relay (4:13.30). Schlecter and Lisofsky also finished third (1:03.80) and fourth (1:04.07), respectively in the 400-meter dash.

For Brown, just being able to line up at the start was a monumental personal victory. Brown missed most of last year after battling respiratory issues. However, through her faith, Brown overcame that adversity and returned with a bang. Brown was a key member of the Golden Bears’ cross-country team that finished 14^th nationally and second in the Atlantic Region. As she continues to get healthier and stronger, Brown knows her times will get faster.

“This is a good starting point for me,” Brown said. “I felt good tonight. I just think I need more speed though. I just feel really good because it seems like all of my hard work is paying off for me. This meet gives us a lot of hope for the season and in the future.”

With Grayer around, the Golden Bear future appears brighter than the sun. Participating in her first 55-meter dash as a collegian, Grayer sped to victory in 7.61 seconds despite being nervous before the meet. However, once the starting gun went off, Grayer eased into her rhythm and cruised across the finish line with the smoothness of a 2010 Lexus gliding across the Pennsylvania Turnpike. Helping Grayer, who finished sixth in the 200-meter dash in a time of 28.81 seconds, succeed in the race was her teammates.

“They were very encouraging,” Grayer said. “My teammates helped me calm my nerves by giving me compliments and cheering me on. That really helped me. I just thought about the finish line and how good I would feel if I was able to win.”

The Golden Bears women’s track team resembles an expanded version Brady Bunch and the Partridge Family, getting along with each other, encouraging one another, spending plenty of time laughing, joking and eating pizza together.

“Most days it’s a relief to come to practice because you know your best friends are going to be there,” Mathews said. “We are definitely one big family. Being around each other also helps ease the tension of classes. I’ve never seen a team as close as ours. We’re all excited because we believe we can do well this year.”

Pinter was disappointed with the distance she tossed the weight, but she was excited to see Doyle excel. That exemplifies the spirit of team togetherness. When asked about her effort, Pinter’s face twisted into a fierce scowl. However, when the subject of Doyle’s effort came up, Pinter’s countenance lit up like a Christmas tree.

Doyle has the good fortune of learning from one of the best throwers in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC). Doyle also overcame her nerves to uncork a career-best throw. Even though this is the second weight throw Doyle has competed in as a collegian, she has proven to be a quick learner. Doyle, who has been throwing the shot put since sixth grade, improved by more than four feet from her weight throw debut last month at Bucknell.

“Ashley is always striving for perfection and she’s never satisfied,” Hoffman said. “That’s the sign of a champion. The women are a very tight-knit group and I think we’ll see the young girls step up and become leaders. For Shante, in her first meet, she turned in a very solid effort and I think it’s a good starting point for her.”

Other KU athletes who finished among the top four in their events were freshman Kaitlyn Roberts (Clarks Summit/Abington Heights), who finished fourth in the 35-pound weight throw (41-01/2). In the 800-meter run, sophomore Jill Kostishion (Hilltown/Pennridge) was fourth (2:34.49). Sophomore Lindsey Ray (Barnegat, NJ/Barnegat) claimed third place in the 1,000-meter run (3:18.64). In the 55-meter hurdles, freshman Brittany Harman (Hanover/South Western) finished fourth (9.58).

Junior Jenn Zook’s (Reedsville/Indian Valley) clearance of 4-101/2 in the high jump was good enough for fourth place. Freshman Kristin Slack (Royersford/Spring-Ford) was fourth in the long jump (15-101/2).

Kutztown returns to action next Saturday afternoon when it competes at Princeton University. 

KU Women’s Results
200-meter: 1st place – Brooke Mathews 27.61; 2nd place Sarah Messner 28.46; 6th place Shante Grayer 28.81;  7th place Samirah Barczynski 28.84
400-meter:  3rd place - Jess Schlechter 1:03.80; 4th place – Lynn Lisofsky 1:04.07
500-meter: 2nd place – Rachel Hunte 1:21.59
800-meter: 1st place – Keri Brown 2:21.61; 4th place – Jill Kostishion 2:34.49; 5th place – Lindsay Smith 2:37.15; 7th place – Kayla Montgomery 2:39.17
1,000-meter: 3rd - Lindsey Ray 3:18.64
4X400 relay: 2nd (Lynn Lisofsky, Keri Brown, Jessica Schlechter and Rachel Hunte) 4:13.30; 6th place (Sarah Messner, Brittany Harman, Kayla Montgomery and Lindsay Smith) 4:36.61; 7th place (Brooke Mathews, Kristin Slack, Jill Kostishion and Shante Grayer) 4:38.32
55-metter hurdles: 4th place – Brittany Harman 9.58; 6th place - Kristin Slack 9.62
55-meter dash: 3rd place – Brooke Mathews 7.70; 5th place - Samirah Barczynski 7.79
mile: 5th place – Chelsea Ray 6:03.70; Lauren Ayars 6:04.47
35-lb. weight: 1st place – Ashley Pinter 44-04; 2nd place – April Doyle 42-05 1/2; 4th place Kaitlyn Roberts 41-00 1/2; 6th place – Maria Hoover 32-08 1/2
Pentathlon:   2nd place – Katie Colburn 2,768 points
High Jump: 4th Jenn Zook 4-10 1/2
Long Jump: 4th place – Kristin Slack 15-10 1/2; 5th place - Christina Costanzo 15-09
Pole Vault: 2nd place – Rachel Weigle 10-00; 7th place - Alison Wise 9-00 1/4
Shot Put:  1st place – April Doyle 40-05; 2nd place – Ashley Pinter 41-02 1/2; 4th place – Kaitlyn Roberts 34-04 3/4; 5th place – Maria Hoover 32-05 3/4; 8th place – Katie Colburn 28-07 1/2

--KU--