Ithaca isn’t gorges for Quakers track

On Saturday, the Penn women’s track and field team battled both Cornell and harsh weather conditions during their dual meet in Ithaca, N.Y.

Both proved to be too much for the Quakers, and the Big Red won the meet 111.5-50.5.

Despite the loss, the Red and Blue delivered several standout performances.

Sophomore Kristen Judge earned first place in the high jump — she was the only competitor to leap over 1.65 meters.

In the 5,000 meters, freshman Leslie Kovach’s time of 16:59.19 garnered a first-place finish and qualified Kovach for the Eastern College Athletic Conference championships.

Penn’s upperclassmen also made their presence known on Saturday.

Senior Kathryn Gevitz scored in both the long jump and triple jump, winning the former with a leap of 6.08 meters. In the triple jump, she placed second, with a distance of 12.01 meters.

Classmate Amy Donovan set a personal best in the discus with her heave of 40.68 meters. The toss earned her second place in the event and ranks ninth all-time in the program’s history.

Fellow senior Jamie Massarelli set a personal best in the 800 meters, winning the event with a time of 2:09.25 and setting a new Kane Complex record.

However, in the 4x400, she tumbled after retrieving the baton hand-off, suffering severe injuries to her jaw.

Head coach Gwen Harris was unavailable for comment, as she was accompanying Massarelli during surgery yesterday.

While the women were at Cornell, the Penn men’s track and field team competed in the Larry Ellis Invitational at Princeton’s Weaver Stadium.

Competing against a field including Princeton, Army, Rhode Island, and many others, head coach Charlie Powell was hard-pressed to name his team’s toughest competition.

“When you have thirty-something odd teams competing, it’s hard to say just one,” he said.

The Quakers struggled throughout most of the day, although there were a few bright spots.

Sophomores Robert Dugger and Brian Fulton both placed third in the 1,500 meters and 800 meters, respectively.

The Quakers’ only victory came from freshman Tim Carey, who finished tops in the 400-meter hurdles in 52.02. Carey found success in the 100 meters as well; his finish of 14.75 was good for eighth place.

“He had a wonderful day,” Powell said. “He hates to lose. He’s a pretty fantastic athlete already and you can see him starting to grow. We have big plans for him.”

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