STATE COLLEGE, Pa. – For redshirt sophomore Brian Luciano and junior Alyssa Armitage, this past weekend at the Penn State National Indoor Track Open was another noteworthy chapter in their illustrious careers.
Competing in the non-scoring - but prestigious meet - Luciano broke his own school record in the men's weight throw while Armitage tied her own school record in the women's pole vault. Luciano remained unbeaten this season with a first-place finish while Armitage placed fourth overall in her event.
Luciano became the first Binghamton thrower ever to eclipse the 70-foot mark in the weight throw. His winning distance of 70-1 ½ unofficially ranks No. 26 in the nation. Luciano's previous program record of 69-6 ¾ was set at the Cornell Upstate Challenge two weeks ago.
With his victory at Penn State, Luciano is a perfect four-for-four this season in first-place weight throw performances. He is the defending America East indoor champion in that event and was named the Most Outstanding Rookie at that meet.
Armitage, meanwhile, recorded a height of 13-3 ½ in the pole vault - the same distance she jumped last year when she won the event at the America East Indoor Championships. Armitage was named the Most Outstanding Female Field Athlete after also breaking the meet record in that event. With three weeks left to go until this year's conference meet, she has the top performance in the conference.
Also at Penn State on Saturday, senior Joe Cardascia was second overall in the 500 (1:03.13). He also anchored the third-place 4x400 relay team that included junior Samson Joseph and graduate students Marcus Johnson and Oliver Madariaga. The Bearcat quartet clocked a time of 3:15.00.
On the women's side, the other top finisher was graduate student Jenna Chan, who was fourth in the 60 hurdles.
Binghamton returns to Penn State next Saturday for the Sykes & Sabock Challenge.
TOP MEN'S FINISHERS
Brian Luciano, 1st, Weight Throw (70-1 ½) SR
Joe Cardascia, 2nd, 500 (1:03.13)
4x400 Relay, 3rd (3:15.00)
Johnson, Joseph, Madariaga, Cardascia
Oliver Jibb, 5th, 5,000 (14:50.41)
Matthew Oluwole, 8th, High Jump (6-4)
TOP WOMEN'S FINISHERS
Jenna Chan, 4th, 60 Hurdles (8.47)
Alyssa Armitage, 4th, Pole Vault (13-3 ½)
T-SR
Jennifer Mui, 5th, 5,000 (17:19.75)
Lucciana Robertson, 5th, High Jump (5-7 ¼)
Sydney Leitner, 8th, 3,000 (9:51.36)
