BALTIMORE – UMBC sophomore Mercedes Jackson (Huntingtown, Md./Huntingtown) broke her own school record in the 60m dash twice while competing against a national field at the Penn State National Invitational on Friday evening. 

Jackson, who previously reset her record to 7.42 two weeks ago at the Penn State Relays, was the top qualifier in the preliminary round with a time of 7.44.  She then blazed past this time as the top attached runner with a semifinal time of 7.39.  Jackson was not done, however, finishing in 7.34 in the finals. 

In the field events, senior Amanda Deller (Aberdeen, Md./Aberdeen) placed 18th in the weight throw with a toss of 15.15m (49'8.50").

On the men's side, freshman Thor Serafenas finished seventh in the weight throw after recording a personal-best heave of 16.95m (55'7.50"), the fifth-best throw in the conference.  Junior Yao Adantor (Laurel, Md./Reservoir/Morgan State/Maryland) finished three places back, also notching a personal-best toss.  His toss of 16.66m (54'8.00") moves his up to sixth all-time in UMBC history.

Freshman Hassan Omar (Frederick, Md./Thomas Johnson) also put together a record-breaking performance at Penn State.  Omar finished fifth in the 5,000m run in a personal-best time of 14:54.04 to move into third all-time in UMBC history.  Omar's time also ranks as the second-fastest in the America East this season.

Also for the men, senior Dennison Long (Greenbelt, Md./Eleanor Roosevelt/FIU) advanced to the semifinals in the 60m dash.  He placed tenth in the heat with a time of 6.90, just two-one-hundredths off his personal-best of 6.88 which he set two weeks ago on the same track.

Senior Trae Proctor (Brandywine, Md./Thomas Stone) also advanced, reaching the semis in the 60m hurdles.

The Penn State National Invitational will continue tomorrow, while other UMBC track and field athletes will compete at the Patriot Games at George Mason.