University Park, Pa. — The Nittany Lion track and field teams officially garnered an even dozen All-America citations for the outdoor season, according to the list released by the United States Track and Field/Cross Country Coaches’ Association (USTFCCCA) on Monday. The association recognized a grand total of 428 individuals, who posted top eight efforts, or were one of the top eight American finishers in the their respective events at the NCAA Outdoor Championships. Highlighting the Nittany Lions’ impressive haul was NCAA Champion Bridget Franek (Hiram, Ohio), as well as Aleesha Barber (Decatur, Ga.), Fawn Dorr (Akron, N.Y.), and Shavon Greaves (Lakewood, N.J.), who earned two All-America certificates apiece.
Franek earned Penn State’s first-ever NCAA title in the 3,000-meter steeplechase, claiming the 10th All-America finish of her decorated career, as well as her first NCAA gold. Franek dominated the field in her final NCAA appearance, finishing in a collegiate and U.S.-leading 9:38.86 – 13 seconds ahead of the second-place finisher. The senior is the third Nittany Lion woman to claim an individual title during the NCAA era, following Deshaya Williams in the discus in 2003, and Shana Cox in the 400-meters in 2008.
The Lions recorded another trio of top three finishes, coming from Barber in the 100-meter hurdles, junior Karlee McQuillen (Johnstown, Pa.) in the javelin, and junior Blake Eaton (Allegany, N.Y.) in the shot put. Barber took third in an inspired hurdle race to claim her highest-career finish individually, and end her prolific Nittany Lion career as an 11-time All-America, matching the career total of Cox, and fellow Nittany Lion great Connie Moore. McQuillen earned her third-straight All-America effort, also posting the highest-ever finish by a Nittany Lion woman in the javelin. Eaton also impressed in the throws, launching a personal-best 64-2.50 (19.57) in the shot put – the second-best throw in Nittany Lion history – as well as the first All-America effort from a Penn Stater in the outdoor shot since 1990.
Barber, Greaves, freshman Doris Anyanwu (Beltsville, Md.), and Dorr would also run to All-America status, thanks to a fourth-place finish in the 4×400-meter relay with a season-best 3:30.74. The Lions have been a force in the relay over the better part of the past decade, earning an NCAA title in the event in 2008 (Dominique Blake, Barber, Gayle Hunter, and Cox), and posting All-America efforts on six occasions during the indoor and outdoor season over the past four years.
Senior Ryan Fritz (Parkesburg, Pa.) ends his career as a four-time NCAA All-American after earning a fourth-place finish last weekend, with a season-best clearance of 7-2.50 (2.20). Senior Tyler McCandless (Bath, Pa.) also captured All-America recognition on the men’s side, posting a 12th-place effort in the 10,000-meters to become the first Nittany Lion to score All-America honors in the event since the 1994 season.
Also earning All-America finishes individually were Dorr, who placed fourth in the 400-meter hurdles, and Greaves, who finished seventh in the 200-meters.
The Nittany Lion women placed fourth in the team standings, matching their highest-ever finish and earning the team’s second-ever "Trophy Finish," while the men’s squad tied for 23rd overall – the best standing since the 1993 season.