Morrison sets women's 400-meter record

Add Laura Morrison (Soph.; Wethersfield, Conn.) to the Fredonia women's track and field record board.

Morrison broke the 400-meter outdoor record Friday during the Gator Open at Allegheny College. Her record time of 58.63 seconds was nearly a half-second faster than Rachel McNamara's 59.11 in May of 2004. Morrison finished fourth in the event.

It is the 11th school record established this season by Fredonia women. That includes the 800-meter record of 2:17.69 run by Morrison at last weekend's SUNYAC championship meet.

An academic sophomore, Morrison is listed as a freshman athletically by her coaches.

In other events, Olivia Kurbs (Soph.; Lockport, N.Y.) tied the school pole vault record of 3.25 meters (10 feet, 8 inches) and narrowly missed the ECAC qualifying standard in the event. The ECAC meet is next weekend at Troy, N.Y. Kurbs finished seventh in the event, which was won by Olympic gold medalist Jenn Suhr, representing the Adidas club. A native of the village of Fredonia, Suhr cleared 4.67 meters (15 feet, 3.75 meters) before missing once at 4.75 meters and passing on her final two attempts.

Also, Loren Metzger (Sr.; Fairport, N.Y.) finished second in the discus -- and was first among women from NCAA Division III schools -- with a throw of 41.55 meters (136 feet, 4 inches); Nicole Desens (Jr.; Hopewell Junction, N.Y.) was fourth in the shot put at 11.71 meters (38 feet, 5 inches); and Emily Cummiskey (Sr.; Clarence, N.Y.) was fourth in the triple jump at 10.97 meters (36 feet).

Two Fredonia men also completed. Hsin Chin (Soph.; Pleasant View, N.Y.) threw 48.22 meters (158 feet, 2 inches) in the hammer throw, while Brian Ogilvie (Sr.; East Aurora, N.Y.) cleared 4.25 meters (13 feet, 11.25 inches) in the pole vault and also competed in the long jump.