CALIFORNIA, Pa. – The Penn State Behrend women's track and field team competed at the Cal U Early Bird Meet on Saturday afternoon.

Haley Hughes (Cochranton, PA/Cochranton) led the way in the 3000m steeplechase with a first place finish finish at 11:58.05.  Hughes' time also qualified her for ECAC's.  Danielle Stanko (Saegertown, PA/Saegertown) participated in the 3000m steeplechase as well, taking third with a time of 12:38.10.

In the 100m hurdles, Alex Paget-Blanc (Paris, France/Aelene Boucher) took eighth at 17.04.  She also took third in the 400m hurdles with a time of 1:09.41.

Victoria Harwood (Fair Haven, NJ/Rumson-Fair Haven) competed in both field and track events.  Harwood placed third in the 400m dash at 59.91, a time good enough for ECAC's.  She took seventh in the 200m dash at 27.00.  Harwood wrapped up her day with a fourth place finish in the pole vault at 3.20m.  Angela Sweeney (Jackson, NJ/Jackson Memorial) was slightly behind Harwood in the pole vault at 3.05m for fifth place.

Katie Spade (Warren, PA/Warren) qualified for ECAC's in the 800m run.  Spade took second at 2:18.68, just shy of the winning time of 2:17.78.

The Lions had another ECAC qualifier in the 5000m run.  Catie Bertges (Erie, PA/Collegiate Academy) brought home a second place finish with a time of 18:30.67.  Katie Manno (Erie, PA/McDowell) placed ninth in the event at 20:31.97.

Harwood, Paget-Blanc, and Spade teamed up with Jamie Szramowski (Pittsburgh, PA/Oakland Catholic) for the 4x400m relay.  The squad took third at 4:20.64.

In the field events, Berhend had more strong outings.  Stephanie Stoughton (Chicora, PA/Karns City) and April McDermott (Atco, NJ/Hammonton) took third and 10th respectively in the javelin throw.  Stoughton hit 34.46m with McDermott at 29.13m.  The two athletes also competed in the discus throw.  Stoughton took fifth with a distance of 35.24m while McDermott was just behind in sixth at 35.23m.

The Lions will be back in action on Saturday at the Washington and Jefferson Invitational.