UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- Sophomore Robby Creese (Mount Airy, Md.) and redshirt-junior Mahagony Jones (Cleveland, Ohio) have both run their way to Big Ten Track Athlete of the Week honors, announced by conference office on Wednesday (April 17). Creese posted a lifetime-best performance in the 1500 meters at the Bison Outdoor Classic last weekend, while Jones held her own against stellar sprint competition at the Battle on the Bayou at Louisiana State University.
Creese cruised to career-best 3:41.32 to take top honors at the Bison Outdoor Classic, edging teammate Brannon Kidder (Lancaster, Ohio), who finished in 3:42.07 - also a lifetime best. The sophomore would also reset his own Christy Mathewson Memorial Stadium record in the process, picking up a victory at the event for the second-straight year. Creese's effort also propels him to No. 4 in the all-time Penn State standings in the event, as he now trails only Steve Balkey (3:38.99, 1987), Larry Mangan (3:39.25), and Ryan Foster (3:39.57) in the Nittany Lion record books.
Creese's performance is also significant in the national standings, as the sophomore currently owns the top time in the Big Ten this year, as well as the No. 2 time in Division I. Kidder isn't far behind, ranking second in the conference, and third in the national standings.
Jones also posted an outstanding weekend, capturing a victory in the 100 meters, to go along with a second-place finish in the 200 meters at the Battle on the Bayou. Jones sprinted to a career-best effort of 11.55 to take top honors in the 100, which moves her to No. 3 in the all-time Penn State standings in the event. Jones was equally as impressive in the 200, turning in a PR 23.43 to finish second-to-only LSU's Kimberlyn Duncan - a multiple-time NCAA Champion at the distance. In addition to her individual efforts, Jones would also run a carry on the Lions' third-place 4x100-meter relay, which clocked a season-best 45.34.
The junior currently ranks third in the Big Ten at both individual distances, as well as the relay.
The Nittany Lions will be back in action this weekend, competing at the Mt. SAC Relays in Walnut, Calif., and the Bucknell Team Challenge in Lewisburg, Pa.
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