March 12, 2016
Day One Results | Photo Gallery
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -Penn State wrapped up day one of the NCAA Indoor Track & Field Championships at the Birmingham Crossplex with Brannon Kidder highlighting day one action qualifying for the final of the men's 800-meters.
Penn State's first event of the day, the 800-meters, proved to be as exciting an event as it had been all season long with Nittany Lion senior Brannon Kidder advancing to tomorrows final.
Kidder finished second in his heat grabbing an automatic qualification by finishing as one of the top-four in the heat, clocking 1:47.76 while trailing only Texas A&M's Hector Hernandez in the second preliminary heat.
Kidder, who finished as the runner-up in last years outdoor 800-meter championships in Eugene, Ore. will have an opportunity to capture the indoor title when he steps on the track for the event with a slated start time of 5:30 p.m. CST.
Frosh Isaiah Harris, who entered the meet with a season best of 1:46.24, took sixth-place in the second heat of the prelims of the 800-meters with his time of 1:49.08 in his first career appearance at the NCAA Indoor National Championships.
Next up for Penn State were the duo of Tori Gerlach and Tessa Barrett representing the Nittany Lions in the 5000-meters.
Gerlach and Barrett entered the final seeded 15th, and ninth, respectively.
Freshman Tessa Barrett finished the race in 11th-place in a time of 16:25.94, followed closely by teammate senior Tori Gerlach who grabbed 13th-place in 16:45.56.
Rounding out action on day one for Penn State was the Men's Distance Medley Relay.
The relay combination of Jordan Makins, Alex Shisler, Robert Rhodes, and Colin Abert combined their legs of 1200-meters, 400-meters, 800-meters, and 1600-meters to a pace of 9:50.64 to take ninth-place.
Tomorrow will see Rachel Fatherly, Dannielle Gibson and Brannon Kidder representing the Nittany Lions on day two of the 2016 NCAA Championships.
Kidder, who enters the finals with the sixth-best time from the prelims holds a season best of 1:47.01 and a lifetime best of 1:45.58 set during last years outdoor season.
Rachel Fatherly enters tomorrow's shot put, set to begin at 5 p.m. CST, with a season best and school record of mark of 17.27m/56'-8" and is currently seeded as the No. 8 athlete in the field.
Dannielle Gibson is set to compete in the triple jump tomorrow at 5 p.m. CST bringing a season best mark of 13.14/43'-1.5" in the event and is currently seeded as the No. 15 athlete in the field.
For more on Nittany Lion track & field, log onto www.GoPSUsÂports.com or follow the team on Twitter @PennStateTFXC.