Dec. 5, 2007

The Pitt men's and women's track teams team kick off the 2007-08 indoor season this weekend at the annual Blue and Gold intrasquad meet. Action begins Friday, Dec. 7th at 3 p.m. at the Cost Center and will continue the next day at 9 a.m., before moving to the Fitzgerald Field House at 10 a.m.

NCAA All-American Mike Wray (Philadelphia, Pa./Central High School) will return to guide the men's squad this season in the hurdle events. Wray posted a seventh place finish at the NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships last season.

Senior Eric Fleming (West Chester, Pa./Bishop Shanahan) looks to be a key contributor for the Panthers as well. Fleming is coming off an impressive performance last year, when he garnered Big East All-Conference honors. Junior Eric Jones (Pittsburgh, Pa./Gateway) also captured All-Big East accolades for his third place finish in the triple jump at the outdoor championships.

Returning to lead the Panthers on the women's side are sprinters Shanea and Shantea Calhoun (New Haven, Conn./Wilbur Cross), who were named to the Big East All-Conference team in last year's indoor and outdoor seasons.

Another notable returnee is junior Janessa Murphy (Malvern, Pa./Great Valley), who claimed the Big East Championship title in the long jump for both the 2006-07 indoor and outdoor seasons. Murphy is joined by fellow junior Raquel Bender (Penn Hills, Pa./Penn Hills) and senior Martina Hallman (Miami, Fla./Miami Southridge), both of whom were NCAA Qualifiers during last year's outdoor season in the 100 meters and high jump, respectively.

The Blue and Gold meet is open to the public and admission is free to all who would like to attend.