Pirates Win Three Events At Penn State National Open

Friday, January 25

State College, Pa.

East Carolina University

Penn State National Open

January 26, 2019 | Men's Track and Field, Women's Track and Field, Track & Field

Full Results

Full Meet Results

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. – The ECU track and field program took several steps forward this weekend in Pennsylvania, winning three events and setting a pair of school records at the Penn State National Open inside the Ashenfelter III Indoor Track.

Junior Bria Stith put up a huge number in the pentathlon, racking up a program-record 3,587 points. That mark puts her second in the AAC and 30th nationally. Senior Nick Ciaccia also set a school record in the 5,000-meter run, crossing the finish line in 14:22.67 which gives him the American Conference lead and a No. 22 national rank.

"I could not be more proud of both teams on how we competed this weekend," Director of Men's and Women's Track and Field and Cross Country Curt Kraft said. "We performed about how I expected that we would. Both teams combined for as many as seven personal best once again. Anytime you are setting school records and having personal bests each and every meet, it shows the progression that we are making on both teams. Both teams made some major moves on the American Athletic Conference performance list. We have to enjoy this for 24 hours and move onto the next meet. We are less than a month away from the indoor championships, so we need to continue to improve."

Senior Kristen Stephens also did well in the pentathlon, compiling 3,272 points to finish in fourth place and move into fifth in the AAC. Senior Andrew Ciaccia ran the fourth fastest 5,000 time in program history at 14:53.71 and he is currently seventh in the league. Additionally, junior Dean Abushouk clinched the sixth-best time (15:12.09) in the school annals.

Freshman Anna Bristle continued a strong debut campaign, winning the women's 5,000-meter run in 16:59.81. She ranks second in the league. Junior Mikayla Stoudt and freshman Abby Yourkavitch ran the eighth and ninth fastest 5K times in school history with respective 17:24.58 and 17:25.06 marks.

In the sprints, senior Courtney Warner advanced all the way to finals of the 60-meter dash, running a 7.46 in the semifinals. She also finished third in the 200-meter dash by crossing the line in 24.30. Junior D'Nia Freeman and sophomore Shellbi Chapman took first and third in their section of the 400m with respective times of 56.20 and 56.73. Freeman posted eighth-fastest 400-meter time in program history.

Sophomore Brooke Stith enjoyed a productive weekend, reaching the finals of the 60-meter hurdles where she took seventh place before teaming up with Freeman, Chapman and senior Cedrina Singletary to place third in the 4x400 relay. The squad notched a time of 3:43.95 - the third-fastest indoor 4x400 time in Pirate history and currently second in the American Conference.

ECU is back in action next weekend with a pair of meets. Some of the team will head back to Virginia Tech for the Doc Hale Elite Meet while the other group will travel to Winston-Salem for the Camel City Invitational.