Women's Track & Field | 5/1/2014 9:33:00 PM

SHIPPENSBURG, Pa. – Senior Emma Shank and freshman Allison Marella placed in the 10K Thursday night and junior Sam Beckerleg had a strong opening day in the heptathlon for the Shippensburg University women's outdoor team at the 2014 PSAC Outdoor Track & Field Championships from Seth Grove Stadium.
 
Shank and Marella placed fourth and fifth, respectively, while Beckerleg currently sits in fourth place following Day 1 of the heptathlon.
 
SU's distance runners were only slated to score three points per the PSAC performance sheet but exceeded that total by six – putting the Raiders in second place after Day 1 with nine points.
 
Beckerleg had an outstanding first day, completing four events of the multis competition. She set an outdoor PR in the high jump by clearing 5 feet, 1 ¾ inches and narrowly bested her personal best in the shot put with a throw of 38 feet.
 
Sam began her day running the 100-meter hurdles in 16.74 seconds and finished it by completing 200 meters in 27.68 seconds.
 
Shank ran the 10,000 meters for just the second time in her collegiate career and improved more than four seconds off her April 12 effort at Bucknell. She ran an intelligent race and used strong strides to garner her second career PSAC place-winning performance. Emma placed sixth in the 5K in 2012.
 
Marella, also competing in just her second collegiate 10K, improved her previous effort by 25 seconds for a fifth-place time of 38:27.08.  
 
Friday's schedule begins at 10:30 a.m. with the long jump of the women's heptathlon. Field events (long jump, shot put) begin at noon, while the track (4x1 relay) starts at 1:05 p.m.