Strong showing at first event

Shields sets third facility record at YSU

Senior+Anna+Shields+competes+at+Youngstown+last+weekend+running+in+the+800+meter+event.+Shields+set+a+facility+record+Saturday+and+is+ranked+No.+1+in+the+NAIA+and+No.+4+in+all+of+collegiate+indoor+track+in+the+event.

Photo by Robert Berger

Senior Anna Shields competes at Youngstown last weekend running in the 800 meter event. Shields set a facility record Saturday and is ranked No. 1 in the NAIA and No. 4 in all of collegiate indoor track in the event.

Written By Nicholas Kasisky, For The Globe

Another weekend of records and achievements took place, as Anna Shields set her third facility record.

On Saturday, the Pioneers traveled to Youngstown State University (YSU) to compete at the first full event of the indoor track season, as well as the year.

To kick off 2019, Point Park competed against 28 teams at the YSU Watson and Tressel Training Site.

The 300-meter track at YSU welcomed in quick pacing and fast races.

Point Park junior Xavier Stephens broke his own school record in the mile, crossing the finish line with a time of 4 minutes and 23 seconds.

When asked how he felt about setting another school record in the mile, Stephens smiled and stated “it felt good but it also hurt.” Stephens always added that he looks at his record as a “good start to the season”.

In pursuit of his future goals, Stephens said he hopes to drop his time in the 800-meter run as well as setting records with his team in the 4×800 meter run.

Other personal records were beat at the meet including senior Michael Morris in the triple jump, freshman Doug Kostelansky in the mile, sophomore Reba Bartram in the 800, senior Taylor Celich in the 400, and senior Anna Shields in the 800.

Shields was named the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) Athlete of the Week for women’s indoor track as well as running a facility record time at the YSU Watson and Tressel Training Site in the 800-meter run, finishing with a time of 2:07.51.

“I feel really good about it,” Shields said, as that was one of her goals for the indoor season.

Within the upcoming weeks, Shields said she is looking forward to setting records in the 600-meter run while also looking at the road ahead.

“I have to focus on getting attention for after I graduate. I want to try and get sponsored,” Shields said. “I want to make every race count and pursue my goal of qualifying for the USA in the mile.”

With winter weather hitting Pennsylvania, it certainly is no beach day, but there were feet in the sand.

For the jumpers of the men’s team, junior Chance Callahan led the Pioneers in triple jump, long jump, and shot put. He placed fourth in the triple jump with a jump of 13.52 meters.

“My goal is to go to nationals in both triple jump and long jump, and I’d be the first jumper to do that too,” Callahan said.

On the women’s side, sophomore Miranda Schry also led Point Park in the triple jump with a distance of 9.51 meters.

Freshman Nia Goodman came into the high jump competition unseeded and placed 11th at the height of 1.46 meters. Goodman also competed in a variety of other events that meet including long jump and the 60-meter run.

The Pioneers next meet will be held in Geneva, Ohio for the first day of the Spire Midwest Open. That meet will take place on Friday, Jan. 25.