Jan. 21, 2017
Results
LEXINGTON, KY - Penn State track & field wrapped up the final day of competition at the Rod McCravy Memorial Invitational Saturday afternoon on the campus of the University of Kentucky with a new school record and several high caliber NCAA marks.
Entering day two sitting in second-place, Robert Cardina picked right up where he left off running 8.29 in the 60-meter hurdles - tying his PR - to finish the event trailing UK's Ibn Short by only 11-points.
The heptathlon pole vault saw Cardina take the lead with a clearance of 13'-5.25" (4.10m), giving him a 17-point lead entering the final event.
In the heptathlon 1K, Cardina finished in 2:57.67 scoring 687-points to finish with a two-day total score of 5,295 taking silver in the men's heptathlon.
The 800-meters proved to be as exciting as previously advertised with sophomore Isaiah Harris and freshman Danae Rivers leading the charge.
Rivers, competing in an open event for only the second time in the Blue & White set a second school record, this time taking down the 10-year-old record of 2:05.67 previously held by Briene Simmons from 2007.
"I feel great," said Rivers. "It felt good, I feel like this training has prepared me thus far, and I can't wait to keep going and going."
Rivers finished second in the event, but smashed the old school record by over a full second running 2:04.04 for the freshman from Derby, CT.
The men's 800-meters yielded way to a very quick 800-meters from the reigning Big Ten Champion in the event, Isaiah Harris.
Harris powered his way to a time of 1:46.65 setting a Nutter Field House record along the way as he recorded the No. 2 time in the nation this season trailing only UTEP's Emmanuel Korir who leads the nation with his time of 1:46.50 set at the Vanderbilt Commodore Invite just last weekend in Nashville, TN.
Freshman Domenic Perretta set a new PR in the 800-meters as he joined Harris in running sub-1:50 pacing his way to a 1:49.26 in his first attempt at the distance in the college ranks finishing in sixth-place with a come from behind surge to win his heat.
In the women's shot put, Obeng Marfo (fifth-place) and Alyssa Robinson (seventh-place) teamed up to bring home top-10 finishes with marks of 52'-4" (15.96m) and 51'-0" (15.54m), respectively.
Dannielle Gibson, fresh off winning the triple jump at the Nittany Lion Challenge last week, made a push to make it two-for-two at the McCravy Invitational.
Gibson, who sat in third-place after her first jump with a mark of 40'-7.75" (12.39m), grabbed the lead on her second jump and held it until the final round of finals finishing second with a best mark of 42'-3.25" (12.88m) achieved on her fifth jump of the competition.
The men's triple jump saw Penn State claim three of the top-seven spots led by Bryce Williams who finished third with a best mark of 51'-1.75" (15.59m).
Tyreek Mathis finished the meet as the fastest freshman quarter-miler setting a collegiate PR in the event running 48.52 to take seventh-place.
Marissa Sheva set a collegiate personal best in the mile posting a top-10 finish running a time of 5:00.62, while Colin Abert brought home a top-10 finish in the men's mile running 4:08.79.
Jon Yohman set a new indoor PR in the shot put with his mark of 59'-3" (18.06m) finishing sixth in the event.
Penn State will return to the track Friday, Jan. 27-28 as they host one of the premiere meets in the nation the Penn State National Open at Ashenfelter III Indoor Track.
For more on Nittany Lion track & field, log onto www.GoPSUsports.com or follow the team on Twitter @PennStateTFXC.
ATHLETES WITH COLLEGIATE INDOOR PERSONAL BEST MARKS
Mile
- Marissa Sheva - 5:00.62
400-Meters
- Tyreek Mathis - 48.52
- Lamont Higgins - 49.95
Shot Put
- Jon Yohman - 59'-3" (18.06m)