Last weekend, Anna Shields of the women’s track and field team earned a win in the 3,000 meter race and became the fourth ranked runner in world rankings in the 1,000 meter race at Penn State University.

Competing in the Nittany Lion Challenge at Penn State University, the top Pioneer athletes competed against a number of NCAA Division-1 opponents as they were the only school representing any other athletic division.

In the 1,000 meter race, Shields claimed a second place finish with a time of 2 minutes, 42.51 seconds, just four seconds short of the first place finishing junior Danae Rivers of Penn State University.

Shields’ time placed her in second place out of all collegiate indoor track runners in the event, with the top spot being held by Rivers. As of Saturday night Shields also ranks fourth in world rankings in the 1,000 meter event.

Coming into the event, Shields held the number one time in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) in the 3,000 meters with a time of 9 minutes, 55 seconds. Last weekend Shields maintained her top placement, and improved her time to 9 minutes, 39.19 seconds.

It was a tight race as Shields took the final lead within the last 200 meters. The finishing times were just as close with the next two finishers putting up times of 9 minutes, 39.54 seconds and 9 minutes, 40 seconds.

Reba Bartram also made the trip to University Park to compete in the 800 meter race. Bartram placed eighth overall while running for a personal best time of 2 minutes, 21.71 seconds. This time also placed her in the top 10 rankings of the NAIA.

Representing the men’s team for Point Park was the 4×800 relay team of junior Xavier Stephens, Andre Bennett, Doug Kostelansky and Jared Thompson. The team placed third out of five, with the University of Pittsburgh and Penn State finishing before them placing first and second respectively.

Point Park finished in 8 minutes, 0 seconds which set a school-record and set the top event time in the NAIA thus far in the season.

The Pioneers will continue their season this Friday in Youngstown, Ohio at the Youngstown State University College Invitational.