University of Albany Wins Three Indoor Track Events & One Relay at Penn State's Nittany Lion Challenge - UAlbany Sports 2011

State College, Pa. - University at Albany's Paul Lagno set a school-record in winning the 3,000-meter run to highlight his team's performance at the Nittany Lion Challenge, held at Penn State's Horace Ashenfelter III Indoor Track on Saturday, Jan. 15. The non-scoring competition featured teams from top-ranked Florida, Maryland, Cornell and the host school.

Lagno crossed the finish line in an IC4A-qualifying time of 8:18.41 to finish ahead of Penn State's Nick Scarpello (8:20.44). UAlbany's Alex Leuchanka and Aaron Lozier were third and fourth, respectively, in 8:29.86 and 8:36.26. Lagno's mark shattered Robbie Freeman's UAlbany standard of 8:19.10 set in 2006.

Nick Santos won the 800-meters with a time of 1:53.27 and ran the first leg on the winning distance medley relay. Santos qualified for this March's IC4A championships in the 800 and finished ahead of Cornell's Will Weinlandt, who hit the tape in 1:53.96. Joining Santos on the first-place relay were Chris Burke, Alex Petit-Frere and Sean Halpin. The unit qualified for IC4As in 10:15.50.

In the women's competition, Sandy Antenor was a winner in the triple jump with a leap of 40-feet, 0.50-inches. She qualified for the ECAC Championships. Jonelle White, a freshman, took second in the 800-meter run and reached the line in 2:19.04.

Freshman Brianne Bellon nearly set a school record in her first meet as a collegian. She finished third in the 1,000-meter run with a time of 2.50.80. She placed behind Penn State's Caitlin Lane (2:45.95) and Cornell's Kim Standridge (2:46.48). Bellon's clocking was six-hundredths of a second off Jessica Ortman's 2007 record and qualified her for ECACs.

UAlbany had 10 individuals and three relays meet IC4A and ECAC qualifying standards. The men's 4x400 relay was second in 3:16.03. Peter Rowell, who earlier in the day placed third in the 600-meters, anchored the group that included Jonathan Santana, Taylor Chaney and Ebube Abara.

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information