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EAST STROUDSBURG – Seniors Ian Melhorn and Dan Johnson and junior Kyle Soden own the top marks in their events and five women have top-three marks for East Stroudsburg University going into the 2012 PSAC Indoor Track & Field Championships, which will be contested on Saturday and Sunday at Edinboro.

Melhorn, a four-time PSAC champion in relays, will go after his first individual title as the top seed in the 200m dash and one of the top seeds as the school record holder in the 60m dash.

Johnson is also pursuing his first PSAC title as the top-ranked heptathlete and third-ranked high jumper in the conference. He is an 11-time PSAC placewinner and has scored in the multis at all six PSAC Championships of his career, including third-place finishes in the heptathlon (indoors) and decathlon (outdoors) last year and a runner-up in the decathlon as a sophomore. He has also scored in the high jump in five of six meets.

Soden, ranked first in the high jump, is also the fifth seed in the 60m hurdles. He was third in the high jump at both championships last season and has scored in all four PSAC Championships in his career, along with two top-eight showings in the hurdles.

The Warriors' women's squad has top-three marks from freshman Danielle Smith in the 60m dash, senior Devyn Emerich and freshman Christina O'Connor in the high jump, sophomore Laura Beimfohr in the pole vault and sophomore Elizabeth Madden in the weight throw. Beimfohr and Madden are coming off school records in last week's meet at Cornell.

NCAA provisional marks for the Warriors to date have come from Melhorn (200m), Soden (high jump), Johnson (heptathlon), Beimfohr (pole vault), Emerich and O'Connor (high jump) and junior Rose Mascoli (5000m), who will be competing indoors for the first time after earning All-America honors outdoors last season. Mascoli was a member of the ESU swimming team during the last two winters.

ESU will also have opportunities for great performances from all six of its relay teams – the men's and women's 4x400, 4x800 and Distance Medley Relay. The women's Distance Medley Relay of junior Corinne Fitzgerald, freshman Imani Rosario, sophomore Kim Wernerspach and Mascoli has an NCAA provisional qualifying time of 12:15.04.

The men's squad has won the last four 4x400 championships that have been contested at the 2010 and 2011 indoor and outdoor championships but replaces two legs of last year's squads in All-American Negus Graham and Greg Pammer.

From a team perspective, the Warriors' men are in the midst of their best run since the late 1970's. ESU has placed in the top three at all six championships since 2009, including four runner-up finishes, and was third indoors and second outdoors last season.

The women have also been solid, landing in the top six at all 10 championships since 2007. In the last two years, they were third indoors and fourth outdoors in 2010, and fifth indoors and fourth outdoors last season.

The two-day meet begins on Saturday at 1 p.m. with the women's weight throw and men's long jump. Finals will be conducted in the pentathlon (women), weight throw, long jump, pole vault, 5000m, Distance Medley Relay and 4x800m relay on Saturday, along with trials in the sprints and hurdles. The rest of the finals will be contested on Sunday beginning at 10:30 a.m. and concluding at approximately 3 p.m.


Profiles of ESU's top individual qualifiers are below:


Women's Top Track Qualifiers (times are adjusted for Edinboro's oversized track)

Rose Mascoli (junior): competing in first indoor season after earning two All-America honors (5K, 10K) outdoors last spring … ranked 10th in mile (5:10.99), 8th in 3K (10:23.53) and 5th in 5K (17:30.10) … NCAA  provisional qualifier in 5K (one of five provisional qualifiers in the field) … at 2011 PSAC Outdoor Championships, was 3rd in 1500, 2nd in 3K and 3rd in 5K … at 2010 outdoor meet, placed 7th in 1500 and 6th in 10K … holds ESU outdoor records in 3K, 5K and 10K … placed 5th 5K and 3rd in 10K at 2011 NCAA Outdoor Championships … cross country All-American at 2010 NCAA Championships and two-time All-Region … Academic All-American.

Lauren Ventrella (junior): ranked 4th in 60m hurdles (9.03), 28th in 60m dash (8.11) and 18th in 200m (26.27) … PSAC champion in 60m hurdles as a freshman and placed 3rd in 60m dash … holds school records in both events – 8.94 in hurdles and 7.79 in dash … also holds outdoor record in 100m hurdles (14.73) … has scored twice in outdoor hurdles … member of five place-winning relays … 2nd team All-PSAC East and scored 9 goals as a forward in field hockey in 2011.

Danielle Smith (freshman): ranked 3rd in 60m dash (7.81) and 6th in 200m (25.76) … holds ESU freshman record in 55m dash (7.31) … 2nd-fastest time in school history in 60m dash (.02 off school record held by current junior Lauren Ventrella).

Rachel Pierantozzi (sophomore): ranked 4th in 60m dash (7.82) and t-10th in 200m (25.91) … placed 7th in 60m dash as a freshman (8.03) … member of 4x100m relay outdoors … time of 7.82 is tied for 3rd-fastest in school history … 200m time of 26.01 ranks 6th.

Nicole Brown (sophomore): ranked 15th in 200m (26.05) and t-16th in 400m (59.94) … member of 3rd-place 4x400m relay at last year's PSAC Indoor Championships … ran on 4x100m relay outdoors.

Aniyah Williams (junior): ranked 8th in 60m hurdles (9.29) and t-16th in long jump (16-9 1/4) … second to Ventrella on ESU's 60m hurdles list … placed 7th in long jump at 2011 PSAC Outdoor Championships.

Kim Wernerspach (sophomore): ranked 7th in mile (5:09.75) … member of DMR that has NCAA provisional time … ran on 3rd-place DMR and 5th-place 4x800m relay at last year's PSAC Indoor Championships.

Corinne Fitzgerald (junior): ranked 28th in 3K (10:39.02) … member of DMR that has NCAA provisional time … also ranked 19th in mile (5:13.84) but will focus on 3K and relays … placed 6th in 3K at 2011 PSAC Indoor Championships … 7th in 3000m steeplechase in 2011 and 4th in 2010 during outdoor season … competed in NCAA Cross Country Championships this season and NCAA Outdoor Championships in steeplechase last year … ran on 3rd-place DMR and 5th-place 4x800m relay at last year's PSAC Indoor Championships … holds school record in steeplechase, #2 time in indoor mile, #2 time in indoor 3K and #3 time in indoor 5K … Academic All-District selection.

Women's Field Top Qualifiers

Devyn Emerich (senior): tied for 2nd in high jump (5-6) with NCAA provisional qualifying mark … one of three provisional qualifiers in the field, along with O'Connor … has scored in five of six PSAC Championship meets … tied for 3rd indoors in 2009 and 2011 … 5th indoors in 2010 … 4th outdoors in 2009 and 2010 … has career bests of 5-7 indoors and 5-6 1/2 outdoors … three-time NCAA provisional qualifier.

Christina O'Connor (freshman): tied for 2nd in high jump (5-6) with NCAA provisional qualifying mark … one of three provisional qualifiers in the field, along with Emerich.

Laura Beimfohr (sophomore): ranked 3rd in pole vault (11-9 3/4) with NCAA provisional qualifying mark … one of five provisional qualifiers in the field … set school record last week at Cornell at 11-9 3/4 … holds outdoor mark at 11-3 3/4 … placed 3rd indoors last year at 11-6 1/2, setting previous school record … 4th outdoors at 11-2 1/2 … has cleared 11-3 3/4 four times this season.

Elizabeth Madden (sophomore): ranked 2nd in weight throw (51-0) and 17th in shot put (36-8 1/2) … set school record in weight throw last week at Cornell … has 5-foot PR this year from freshman record of 46-0 1/2 … placed 8th in weight at last year's indoor championships and 8th in hammer at outdoor championships … member of ESU volleyball team for last two years as outside hitter.

Theresa Horn (sophomore): ranked 9th in pentathlon (2,749 points), t-10th in high jump (5-2 1/4) and t-33rd in long jump (16-1 3/4) … pentathlon score is 10th in school history.

Men's Track Top Qualifiers

Ian Melhorn (senior): ranked 1st in 200m (21.49) and t-5th in 60m dash (6.95) … one of two NCAA provisional qualifiers in field in 200m … set Bucknell facility record in 200m in 21.89 (PSAC time is adjusted down to Edinboro's oversized track) … holds school record in 60m dash in 7.00 (PSAC time is adjusted from top 55m time) … ranks 3rd in school history in indoor 200m … five-time PSAC placewinner in individual events and four-time PSAC champion on relays … at 2011 PSAC Indoor Championships, placed 4th in 200 (22.21) and ran on winning 4x400m relay … 2011 Outdoor Championships, placed 6th in 100m and 200m and ran on 2nd-place 4x100m relay … 2010 PSAC Indoor Championships, placed 6th in 200m and ran on winning 4x400m relay … 2010 PSAC Outdoor Championships, placed 5th in 200m and ran on winning 4x100m and 4x400m relays … earned All-American status at NCAA Outdoor Championships in 4x100m relay … member of four relays that currently hold school records – indoor 4x2 and 4x4 and outdoor 4x1 and 4x2.

Brandon Mercer (freshman): ranked t-8th in 60m dash (7.00) … set ESU freshman record in 60m dash in 7.08 seconds at Armory on Feb. 10, 3rd-fastest time overall in school history … PSAC qualifying time is adjusted from 6.58 in 55m at the DeSchriver Invitational on Feb. 4 ... has only competed in three meets at ESU.

Robert Fearon (freshman): ranked 11th in 60m dash (7.01) and 33rd in 200m (22.94) … set ESU freshman record in 60m dash that was broken by Mercer three weeks later … ran 7.14 at Lehigh on Jan. 21 … PSAC qualifying time is adjusted from 6.59 in 55m at Kutztown on Jan. 13.

Brett Yeomans (freshman): ranked 17th in 200m (22.48) … set ESU freshman record in 22.58 at Armory on Feb. 10 (PSAC time is adjusted down to Edinboro's track) … time is 7th in school history.

Damien Boham (freshman): ranked 17th in 400m (49.89) but will focus on relays … time of 49.99 at Armory on Feb. 10th is 7th in school history (PSAC time is track-adjusted).

Keith Parker-Washington (sophomore): ranked t-21st in 400m (50.26) … placed 3rd in PSAC in 200m at 2011 PSAC Outdoor Championships in 22.23 … ran on PSAC champion 4x400m relays both indoors and outdoors as a freshman … outdoor 4x4 squad set school record in 3:13.91 … also ran on 2nd-place 4x100m relay outdoors.

Sam Janssen (senior): ranked 8th in 800m (1:56.24) … two-time placewinner in 800m … 7th at 2010 PSAC Indoor Championships and 6th at 2009 PSAC Outdoor Championships … ran on 2nd-place 4x800 relay indoors as a sophomore.

Frank Fezza (sophomore): ranked 9th in 3K (8:44.16) … set school record in 8:30.45 as a freshman in 2010 to finish 6th in PSAC … missed last season due to injury … also ran on 2nd-place 4x800m relay in 2010 … has ESU's #8 time in indoor 1000m, #4 time in indoor mile and school record in 3K … two-time All-PSAC and All-Region in cross country … placed 12th in PSAC and 18th in Region last fall.

Chris Schneider (sophomore): ranked 13th in 5K (15:36.91) and 18th in mile (4:26.01) … member of 5th-place DMR at last year's PSAC Indoor Championships … in cross country, placed 14th in Region and was named PSAC Freshman of the Year last fall (freshman eligibility in cross country).

Derrick Washington (freshman): ranked 9th in 60m hurdles (8.54) and 35th in 400m (50.94) … hurdles time is tied for 10th in school history … set ESU freshman record in 300m (36.47) last week at Cornell.

Men's Field Top Qualifiers

Kyle Soden (junior): ranked 1st in high jump (6-8 3/4) and 5th in 60m hurdles (8.46) … only NCAA provisional qualifier in field in high jump … has scored in high jump at all four PSAC Championships … 3rd at both indoor and outdoor meets last year .. 7th indoors and t-4th outdoors as a freshman … scored in 60m hurdles in 2010 and 110m hurdles in 2011 … ranks 3rd in school history in 60m hurdles (8.37 as freshman) and 6th in indoor high jump.

Dan Johnson (senior): ranked 1st in heptathlon (4,726 points) and 3rd in high jump (6-5 1/2) … only NCAA provisional qualifier in field in heptathlon … holds school records in both heptathlon (4,797) and decathlon (6,516) … has scored in multi at all six PSAC Championships in career (all in top six) … 3rd in both events last year with school-record totals … runner-up in decathlon during 2010 outdoor season … five-time NCAA provisional qualifier … has scored in high jump in five PSAC Championships … finished t-5th indoors last season … best finish in high jump was 4th at 2009 PSAC Indoor Championships … also qualified in 60m hurdles and pole vault but will not compete to focus on heptathlon and high jump.

Cory Kresge (sophomore): ranked 6th in long jump (22-5 3/4) … placed 5th indoors (23-1 3/4) and 6th outdoors (22-6 1/2) in PSAC as a freshman … ranks 6th in indoor long jump in school history.

Travis Toth (freshman): ranked 8th in weight throw (51-2 3/4) … set ESU freshman record at DeSchriver Invitational on Feb. 4 … mark ranks 4th in school history.

Mike Smith (freshman): ranked 16th in weight throw (46-8) and 16th in shot put (45-11 3/4) … mark in weight throw ranks 8th in school history.

A.J. Ulinski (freshman): ranked 15th in shot put (46-0 3/4).