Aug. 4, 2009

World Championships Homepage

BERLIN, Germany - Rising track and field seniors Bridget Franek (Hiram, Ohio) and Aleesha Barber (Decatur, Ga.) will take on the world's best this month, traveling to the IAAF World Championships in Athletics, set for August 15-23 in Berlin Olympic Stadium. Franek, who will compete for the United States, is scheduled to compete in the 3,000-meter steeplechase, while Barber, who will be wearing the colors of Trinidad and Tobago, will take on the field in the 100-meter hurdles.

"Bridget's preparation this summer has been truly outstanding," said Nittany Lion Director and Head Coach of Track and Field/Cross Country Beth Alford-Sullivan. "She is physically and mentally on top of her game and it is exciting to see her continue to progress her training at the world level. Her 2000-meter time trial last week proves that she is in 9:20s fitness and is a good marker for her to know what it will take to make the final."

Franek has had a sensational outdoor season, capped off by a third-place finish at the USATF Championships in June, where she ran a school-record 9:36.74. Franek's top-three finish secured a slot on the U.S. squad, while her time also bettered the world "A" standard, guaranteeing her a spot in Berlin. Throughout the season, Franek's honors have included a fourth-place and All-America finish in the steeplechase at the NCAA Championships, as well as runner-up honors in the event at the Big Ten Championships. In her first three years with the Nittany Lions, Franek is a perfect "nine-for-nine" in NCAA appearances (cross country, indoor, and outdoor track and field), and has earned a total six All-America certificates. She has also claimed a total of five school records, including the mile run (4:38.63), and 3000-meters (9:10.04) during the 2009 indoor season.

"I'm really excited but I'm still really sure what to expect," said Franek prior to her departure to Berlin. "But I'm going to try and make the most of everything and capitalize on a great opportunity. I'm really excited to get some exposure on the world level."

Franek has continued excellent training since this U.S. Championships, running 6:13 for a 2000-meter steeplechase time trial, run at Nittany Lion Track. The rising senior, who made her first international appearance at the NACAC Under-23 Championships in Toluca, Mexico, last summer, will be joined by NCAA and U.S. steeplechase champion and fellow collegian Jenny Barringer, as well as Lindsey Anderson, a former NCAA winner while at Weber State. Both Barringer and Anderson were members of the U.S. team at the 2008 Olympics.

Barber, also a 2008 Olympian, placed fourth at the NCAA Indoor Championships in the 60-meter hurdles, and was a member of All-America relays during the indoor and outdoor seasons in 2009. Barber, who has been competing internationally throughout the summer and has already gone overseas to attend Trinidad and Tobago's training camp, notched a second-place effort at the Central America and Caribbean Championships (CAC) held in Havana, Cuba, where she ran a time of 13.12 in the 100 hurdles. More recently, Barber competed at the Abuja CAA Super Grand Prix in Abuja, Nigeria, finishing second in the 100 hurdles with a season-best time of 13.06. In Nigeria, Barber finished second to none-other-than Nittany Lion alumnus and fellow 2008 Olympian Toyin Augustus, who ran 12.96 for the win. Barber, who has one season of outdoor eligibility remaining, has also made quite a name for herself in Penn State history, as she as already achieved nine All-America finishes, including an NCAA title on the 4x400-meter relay in 2008, as well as seven Penn State records.

A pair of former Nittany Lions will also be competing on the world's stage, including Shakeema (Walker) Welsch for the United States, and Toyin Augustus for Nigeria. Welsch earned a bid via a first-place finish in the triple jump at the USATF Championships. Welsch's personal-best performance is 46-6 (14.17), which she achieved in Alcalá de Henares, Spain, last summer. Augustus has also been active on the international scene this summer, notching 100 hurdle wins at the Abuja CAA Super Grand Prix and in Nantes, France, where she clocked a lifetime-best 12.85.

"As mid-August approaches it is exciting to follow the success of Aleesha Barber, "continued Sullivan. "She is poised and ready to represent not only Trinidad and Tobago, but the Nittany Lions of Penn State as well. I look forward to seeing her compete in Berlin. With the two current team members and our alums it should be an exciting World Championships for Penn State Track and Field."

Check www.gopsusports.com for updates on the Nittany Lions in Berlin, and following the results on www.IAAF.org, and the host site, www.berlin2009.org.

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