Troy Litten Wins Decathlon, Chris Gardner Captures Long Jump at PSAC Outdoor Meet



Troy Litten was in the top three in six of 10 events to claim the decathlon title

May 2, 2008

Friday PSAC Meet Results

IUP senior Troy Litten earned the title of best male athlete in the PSAC with his championship in the decathlon on the first full day of the conference outdoor track and field meet being held at Miller Stadium.

Litten was joined as an event champion Friday by fellow senior Chris Gardner, who took first place in the long jump.

Litten scored 6,506 points to easily outdistance runner-up Mike Rose of Slippery Rock by 216 points. Litten was first in his specialty, the pole vault, as well as the discus and javelin and was second in the long jump, third in the 100 meters and tied for third in the high jump.

Litten became the fourth IUP athlete to win the PSAC outdoor decathlon championship. Dave Medvetz won three in a row from 1984-86, and Brian Spickler (1996-97) and Dave Singer (1999-2000) captured back-to-back titles.

Gardner had a winning leap of 24 feet, 1 ½ inches in the long jump, 8 ½ inches ahead of second place finishers Jamal James of Shippensburg. Gardner joins Eric Vassall (1988-89) and Jermaine Clayton (2006) as IUP champions in the men's long jump.

Chris Stewart was the third IUP athlete to score Friday, taking seventh in the decathlon with 5,773 points. He was second in both the 100 and shot put.

The IUP women took a pair of fourth place finishes, including Gretchen Colwell in the shot put (40-6 ¾) and Casey Waha in the javelin (127-4).

Preliminary action was held in seven events, with IUP qualify athletes only in the 800 meters. Sean Strauman had the top qualifying time in the men's 800, crossing in 1:50.13, while Maureen Newell advanced in the women's race with a time of 2:15.36.

The majority of finals in the running events will take place Saturday beginning at 11 a.m. while finals in the remaining eight field events get under way at 9:30 a.m.