Jan. 20, 2016
- Big Ten Release
ROSEMONT, Ill. -- After breaking the NCAA record in the 1,000-meters this past weekend, senior Brannon Kidder (Lancaster, Ohio) has been named the Big Ten Men's Track Athlete of the Week, as announced by the conference office Wednesday afternoon.
This is the fourth career award for Kidder. At the Nittany Lion Challenge (January 16), Kidder, who had never run the 1,000-meters before Saturday's meet, set the collegiate record running 2:18.26 as he ran away from the field over the final 75-meters for the win with the next closest competitor over a full three seconds behind.
Kidder in one race set a meet record, school record, facility record, and an all-time collegiate record.
Kidder returns the prestigious honor as the fastest collegiate athlete to ever run the 1,000-meters to Happy Valley, as teammate Robby Creese previously held the record from 2012-2014. Former Nittany Lion Ryan Foster held the NCAA record, before Creese, when he became the first to break 2:20 in the event in 2010. Penn State is home to two of the three fastest times in the 1,000m in NCAA history.
Kidder becomes the first Penn State Men's Indoor Track Athlete of the Week since he last received the award last season (Feb. 23, 2015).
The Nittany Lions host the Penn State National Friday and Saturday (January 29-30) at the Ashenfelter III Indoor Track.
For more on Nittany Lion track & field, log onto www.GoPSUsports.com or follow the team on Twitter @PennStateTFXC