2001 Women's Track and Field Player Profiles






left to right: Jackie Babbini, Heather Bjorndahl, Danielle Centurione, Jenn Eye













left to right: Becky Fitz, Angela Gray, Cheryl Griffen, Jenn Grube













left to right: Christel Hibbard, Steph Hippman, Quanette Jester, Diane Portzline













Shavanna Ross, Kelli Strickler










Jenn Grube

Throws Senior

Easton, Pa. – Returning NCAA Division II All-America competitor in javelin . . . holds school record in the event . . . finished second twice and third once in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference meet . . . also qualified for nationals as freshman.

2000: Finished fifth in javelin at NCAA Division II championships to gain All-America honors . . . threw school-record 146-7 . . . also had throw of 146-4 during national competition . . . placed third in PSAC with throw of 141-5 . . . won event at Spider Relays and was second in Millersville Metrics, Army Invitational and Bucknell Invitational . . . also competed in the shot put and the discus.

1999: Set school javelin record with new implement with throw of 139-7 in Raleigh Relays . . . missed by four inches qualifying for nationals . . . finished second in PSAC with throw of 136-5 . . . won title in Millersville Metrics . . . was ninth at Penn Relays.

1998: Qualified for NCAA championships in javelin after throwing 148-1 for a first place finish at Baldwin and Wallace Invitational . . . finished ninth in national meet with throw of 134-11 . . . was 11 inches from eighth place and All-America honors . . . runner-up at PSAC championships with a throw of 135-9 . . . also was sixth in discus at 119-6 . . . won javelin in three meets.

High School: Finished third in javelin in PIAA state championship for Wilson Area High School . . . won discus competition in district meet as sophomore . . . had best marks of 137-10 in javelin, 114-6 in discus and 34-11 in shot put . . . also competed four years in basketball and two years in soccer . . . earned MVP honors in soccer. Personal: Majoring in Physical Education Teacher Certification.

Cheryl Griffin

Sprints Senior

Walden, N.Y. - astest sprinter in school's history . . . holds five individual school records . . . also member of four setting relay teams . . . NCAA national qualifier in 55-meter dash indoors . . . three-time Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference place-winner . . . two-time ECAC indoor champion.

2000: Ran fastest leg of 56.5 on Warriors' conference championship 4 x 400-meter relay team . . . placed second in PSAC meet in both 100 and 200-meter dashes . . . set school records of 12.14 and 24.59 . . . missed one place qualifying for nationals in both events. . . also won sprints in record-breaking times in meets at Bucknell, Lafayette, Army and Kutztown . . . anchored 4 x 100-meter relay to school record 48.38.

Qualified for NCAA Division II indoor championships in 55 dash with school-record time of 7.13 . . . broke school marks at 60 meters at 7.96 and 200 at 24.94 . . . won 200 at ECAC Division II indoor championships . . . placed fourth in 55 . . . ran 25.1 anchor leg on 4 x 200-meter relay which was fourth in school-record 1:45.29.

1999: Finished third in 200-meter dash at PSAC meet with a career-best time of 25.27 . . . anchored 4 x 100-meter relay team to third place finish and was member of 4 x 400 meter relay team which was fourth . . . won 200-meter dash at ECAC championships in school-record time of 25.84 . . . anchored 4 x 200-meter relay team to ECAC runner-up finish . . . set school mark in 55-meter dash of 7.25.

1998: Placed sixth in PSAC 200 in 26:59 . . . member of 4 x 100-meter team which was third in school-record 48.99 . . . broke school indoor record in 55-meter dash with winning time of 7.34 at Lehigh . . . was fourth in 200 at ECAC meet in 26.71 . . . anchored ECAC championship 4 x 200-meter team which set school mark of 1:46.38.

High School: Placed fourth in 300-meter dash at New York State meet for Valley Central High School . . . sectional champion in both 55 and 300 dashes. Personal: PSAC Scholar-Athlete majoring in English Teacher Certification.

Shavanna Ross

Hurdles, Jumps, Sprints Senior

Center Valley, Pa. - NCAA Division II national qualifier and school record-holder in 400-meter hurdles . . . considered team's most versatile competitor . . . also runs 100 hurdles and 200 and 400 dashes and competes in high jump . . . two-event Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference place-winner last two years.

2000: Gained berth in NCAA nationals in 400 hurdles but did not place . . . set school record of 61.39 in event in finishing as runner-up in PSAC championships . . . also placed sixth in conference in high jump at 5-3 1/4 . . . anchored 4 x 400-meter relay team to conference title and school-record time of 3:51.91 . . . fought off challenges from two competitors and blazed home with 57.2 quarter . . . runner-up in 400 hurdles at Army Invitational in 63.2 and Lafayette Invitational in 62.99 both of which were school records at the time.

Set two school indoor records in 400-meter dash with time of 58.63 and 60-meter hurdles in 9.55 . . . tied for third in high jump in ECAC championships . . . also was fourth in 400 and fifth in 55 hurdles at ECAC meet.

1999: Placed sixth in both 400-meter dash with time of 58.97 and high jump at 5-0 1/4 at PSAC championships . . . ran 58.6 leg on 4 x 400-meter relay which was fourth . . . had team's top times of 15.10 in 100 hurdles and 66.40 in 400 hurdles . . . helped mile relay to fifth-place finish in ECAC indoor meet.

1998: Ran 59.2 second leg on 4 x 400-meter relay which placed fourth in PSAC championships . . . was third in 400 hurdles in meets at Lehigh and Kutztown.

High School: PIAA state place-winner for William Allen High School . . . finished eighth in 300-meter hurdles in 46.80 at 1997 PIAA Track and Field Championships . . . won PIAA district title in 300 hurdles in 45.80 and was second in 100 hurdles in 15.6 . . . swept East Penn League hurdles . . . Personal: Majoring in Biology.

Quanette Jester

Jumps Senior

Oakland, N.J. – Outstanding jumper who has been team's top scorer in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference championships three straight years . . . has accounted for 55 individual points . . . has placed in the meet eight times with one title and four second-place finishes . . . three-time ECAC indoor place-winner.

2000: Placed in all three jumps and scored 19 individual points in PSAC championships . . . finished second in triple jump with school-record leap of 38-9 1/2 . . . tied for second in high jump at 5-3 1/4 . . . was fourth in long jump at 17-0 1/2 . . . double winner at Spider

Relays at Richmond in long jump and triple jump . . . set school indoor record of 37-7 in placing second in triple jump at ECAC championships . . . was fourth in long jump at 17-0 . . . won high jump at Dick DeSchriver Invitational with leap of 5-4.

1999: Broke own school record in triple jump with leap of 38-5 to finish second at PSAC championships . . . also finished second in long jump at 17-7 1/4 and third in high jump at 5-4 1/2 for total of 22 points . . . took third in triple jump at ECAC indoor championships with season-best 36-10 1/4.

1998: Named the PSAC Women’s Track and Field Rookie of the Year . . . stunned field including the defending champion in capturing the conference triple jump title with school-record 37-6 1/4 . . . also placed fourth in the conference in the high jump at 5-3 1/4 . . . won triple jump at Millersville Metrics and Baldwin and Wallace Invitational . . . had team’s top performance in long jump of 16-11 . . . placed sixth in triple jump in ECAC indoor championships at 35-1 3/4. High School: Won county championship in triple jump in 1995 . . . earned All-League first team honors in all three jumps . . . also made All-League in basketball. Personal: Sociology major with a concentration in Criminal Justice Administration.

Kelli Strickler

Jumps, Multi, Jumps Junior

Stowe, Pa. – Outstanding high jumper and all-around athlete . . . placed second as freshman and tied for second last year in high jump at Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference championships . . . took runner-up honors in the PSAC heptathlon last season . . . also competes in the 100-meter hurdles.

2000: Set school record in heptathlon with score of 4,121 points in finishing second in PSAC championships . . . tied for second in conference in high jump with leap of 5-3 1/4 . . . won high jump at Army Invitational . . . placed second in Millersville Metrics. Tied for third in high jump at ECAC Division II indoor championships at 5-3 1/4 . . . won event at both Lafayette Invitational with a season-best jump of 5-6 and at the John Covert Classic at Lehigh.

1999: Made immediate impact in freshman year . . . lost on jump-off and placed second in the high jump at PSAC championships with a season best of 5-4 1/2 . . . was sixth in high jump at Millersville Metrics. Provisional qualifier for NCAA Division II Indoor Track and Field Championships with leap of 5-6 1/2 in placing third in Delaware Invitational but did not make the field . . . tied for fourth in high jump at ECAC indoor meet at 5-3 1/2 . . . won high jump titles at the Bucknell Winter Classic, Lafayette Invitational and Bears' Den Invitational at Kutztown.

High School: Cleared 5-7 to place third in high jump at PIAA championships for Pottsgrove High School . . . won District 1 title . . . gained PAC-10 All-Area first team honors three straight years . . named team's MVP in sophomore and senior years . . . also starred in field hockey . . . graduated with distinguished honors. Personal: PSAC Scholar-Athlete majoring in Nursing.

Jackie Babbini

Sprints, Hurdles Sophomore

Cliffside Park, N.J. - Leadoff runner for both 4 x 400 and 4 x 100 meter relay teams which set school records . . . ran 58.9 split on 4 x 400 team which won PSAC title . . . second in 400 hurdles and third in javelin at Spider Relays . . . third in 500 at ECAC indoor meet . . . starter on Warriors' PSAC East championship volleyball team.

High School: Set five school records at Cliffside Park High School . . . placed third in state championships in javelin . . . won Bergen County titles in 400 hurdles and 400 dash . . . made All-State first team in volleyball. Personal: Majoring in Special Education.

Jennifer Eye

Sprints Sophomore

Aristes, Pa. – Ran third leg on 4 x 400-meter relay team which won Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference title in record-breaking time . . . kept team in lead with 59.0 split . . . . also ran on 4 x 100-meter relay team . . . qualified for conference meet in 200 and 400-meter dashes but did not compete.

High School: Qualified for PIAA state championships in 200-meter dash for North Schuylkill High School . . . tied school record . . . also competed in 100, 400 and 800 . . . ran cross country two years . . . Personal: Athletic Training and Sport Medicine major.

Christel Hibbard

Middle Distances Junior

Springville, Pa. – Runner-up in mile in 2000 ECAC indoor meet . . . placed fifth in PSAC 3,000 meter-run . . . won 3,000 at Army and Millersville Metrics . . . first in 1,000 at DeSchriver Indoor Invitational . . . two-time All-Conference cross country runner . . . placed ninth in PSAC meet and eighth in NCAA regionals last year. Four-year track and field MVP for Elk Lake High School . . . won District 2 'AA' 800-meter title with school-record 2:25.4 . . . qualified for PIAA cross country meet four years . . . also MVP in basketball . . . Personal: PSAC Scholar-Athlete in Special Education.

Angela Gray

Sprints Freshman

Jersey City, N.J. - Burst on collegiate scene by winning 400-meter dash at Bucknell Invitional in December with time of 60.14 . . . also ran 60.2 leg on 4 x 400 relay which set school record of 4:02.60 . . . seen as potential conference place-winner.

High School: Posted best times of 58.0 indoors and 58.7 outdoors in 400-meter dash for Ferris High School . . . indoor time was fifth best in state . . . tied for first in state sectionals in 200 dash with time of 25.1 . . . made All-County first team . . . chosen as team's most valuable athlete . . . Personal: Majoring in Sociology.

Steph Hippman

Throws Freshman

New Buffalo, Pa. - Talented freshman who already has made her mark on ESU sports scene . . . scored two goals and had five assists for field hockey team despite missing 12 games because of broken hand . . . will join All-America Jenn Grube and Jackie Babbini in javelin.

High School: Placed eighth in PIAA state championships in javelin for Susquenita High School . . . competed for former ESU football linebacker Frank Snyder . . . earned MVP and all-star honors in field hockey . . . also played basketball . . . named school's Athlete of the Year. Personal: Exercise Science major.
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