Feb. 2, 2009
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa.: February 2, 2009 - After posting NCAA automatic-qualifying performances at the Penn State National last weekend, senior Gayle Hunter (Riverside, Calif.) and junior Bridget Franek (Hiram, Ohio) have been named Big Ten Athletes of the Week. Franek has now won weekly conference honors on five occasions, while Hunter receives the award for the third time.
Hunter's record setting afternoon began with an NCAA provisional-qualifying and PR 8.37 in the 60-meter hurdles to start the pentathlon. The senior then recorded a personal-best 39-3.75 (11.98) in the shot put, and put up another NCAA mark, with a provisional leap of 20-5.25 (6.23) in the long jump. Hunter finished the multi-events with another personal best, going 2:17.23 in the 800-meters to cap off her sensational 4236-point total. Not only was Hunter's score a new meet, facility, and school record, it is also the 2009 NCAA leader, and bettered her own school record by nearly 100 points. Hunter would come back later in the evening to win the open long jump with a leap of 20-1.75 (6.14), bettering the NCAA provisional standard once again.
Franek would also punch her ticket to the NCAA Championships, running a blistering 9:10.04 for 3,000 meters. Franek's school record setting performance bettered Paula Renzi's 9:13.06 from 1985, and is also the top time in the Big Ten this season, as well as the third-fastest time run among NCAA competitiors.
The Lions close out their 2009 home stand Friday and Saturday, at the Sykes-Sabock Challenge Cup, set for Feb. 6-7 at Horace Ashenfelter III Indoor Track.