Feb. 20, 2016
Penn State Tune-Up Results |
New York, New York - The Penn State track and field team split competition sites as a majority of the team competed in the final indoor home meet of the season at Ashenfelter III Indoor Track, while senior Brannon Kidder competed in the 2016 Millrose Games at The Armory.
Kidder, a consummate All-American, competed in the prestigious Millrose Games running in the Men's Mel Sheppard 800-meter run with some of the best 800 runners in the world, including 2012 Olympian Dwayne Soloman of the United States.
"Brannon ran a good race," said head coach John Gondak. He slowly started to move up in the field after starting in about fourth or fifth-place. Going into the final lap he moved up into second-place down the back stretch pulling up beside Dwayne Soloman as they ran neck and neck. Brannon challenged Dwayne over the final 100-meters through the finish line but Dwayne was able to hold Brannon off. It was a great effort and exactly what we were looking for; it was a great experience for him."
Kidder took second-place in the 800-meter run stopping the clock in one minute, 47.59 seconds trailing only Dwayne Soloman who entered the event sporting a lifetime best of 1:42.82 set in the 2012 Olympics in London.
While Kidder represented Penn State in New York at the Millrose games, the rest of the Nittany Lions were taking part in the final indoor meet of the season in Happy Valley.
In the most anticipated event of the day, Isaiah Harris grabbed the close victory Iin the men's 600-meters running a time of 1:17.50 that would have ranked No. 4 coming into the weekend. Harris would bearly beat teammate Robert Rhodes who finished the event in a time of 1:17.97, followed by Jordan Makins in 1:18.80, Riley Gaibler in 1:20.40, and Mason Post in 1:20.55.
The womens 600-meters saw true freshman Frances Bull sprint to the win, clocking 1:32.75 over the six lap race. Rachel DeCecco ran 1:34.26 taking third in the women's 600-meters.
The sprints saw Lauren Costa and Ashley Rankine take first and fifth-place, respectively, running times of 7.68 and 7.93 seconds in the short sprint.
Rankine would return for the 200-meters finishing with a time of 25.37, a new collegiate personal best.
Moving to the quarter and mid-distance events, Penn State's Peter Hughey turned in his performance of 49.28 in the 400-meters to take fourth-place for the Lions while Greta Lindsley ran to the tune of 2:12.53 in the 800-meters setting a new personal best time in the process.
In the men's 800-meters, Joseph Phifer, Brad Rivera, and Tommy Louro finished sixth, seventh, and eighth in the half-mile with times of 1:53.59, 1:53.62, and 1:53.83, respectively. Phifer and Louro would set lifetime personal best in the events, while Rivera set an indoor personal best in the event, holding an outdoor PR of 1:53.01 from 2014.
Cara Ulizio led the charge for the Nittany Lions in the mile with her time of 5:01.79, a personal best, while Colin Abert, a true freshman, laid down his time of 4:03.92 seconds followed closely by teammates Timothy McGowan in second (4:06.32) and John McGowan in third-place at 4:12.76.
Graduate student-athlete John Dugantook the men's 5,000-meter run in a season best time of 15:07.13.
Tal Ben-Artzi took fifth-place in the 60-meter hurdles with her time of 9.44.
In the field, Ahmenah Richardson and Ben-Artzi combined to take third and fifth-place in the women's high jump with best clearances of 5'-5" (1.65) and 5'-3" (1.60), respectively.
Lexi Masterson would continue to dominate the pole vault event, winning easily with her clearance of 13'-5.25" (4.10), while getting a few very good looks at 14'-1".
Women's long jump saw three Nittany Lion jumpers finish in the top-10 as Dannielle Gibson took first-place with her jump of 19'-4.75" (5.91), followed by Kaitlyn Lopez in fourth-place (18'-11.25"/5.77) and Madeline Holmberg in fifth-place with a best jump of 18'-7.25" (5.67).
Cody Minnig represented Penn State in the men's long jump finishing competition in third-place with a best jump of 22'-6.25" (6.86).
Obeng Mafro wom the women's shot put with her personal best throw of 52'-1.75" (15.89), followed closely by Alyssa Robinson's throw 48'-0.75" (14.65).
The men's shot put was won by Penn State's Jon Yohman who finished with a throw of 56'-8.75" (17.29), a full seven feet further than the closest competitor.
Morgan Shigo took second in the men's shot put with his mark of 49'1.50" (14.97).
Rachel Fatherly won the women's weight throw with her mark of 67'-3.25" (20.50), followed by Robinson, who won the shot earlier, as she finished competition with a best throw of 61'-9.75" (18.84).
The men's weight throw was comprised of two Nittany Lions in the top-five as Kory Decesaris and Morgan Shigo combined to take second and third-place with throws of 60'-10.5" (18.55) and 60'-0.5" (18.33), respectively.
Penn State will travel to Geneva, Ohio February 26-27 to compete in the Big Ten Indoor Track & Field Championships.