Feb. 1, 2017
Big Ten Men's Release
Big Ten Women's Release
ROSEMONT, Ill. - After a weekend of multiple NCAA leading marks; Tessa Barrett, Danae Rivers and Isaiah Harris have been named the Big Ten Women's Co-Track Athletes of the Week and Big Ten Men's Co-Track Athlete of the Week, respectively, as announced by the conference office Wednesday afternoon.
Sophomore Isaiah Harris continues to be one of the top middle-distance athletes in the nation building upon his overwhelmingly successful freshman season that culminated in an Olympic Trials 800-meter final appearance.
Opening the 600-meter race this past weekend in a quick 48.5 400-meter split, Harris closed the gap running stride-for-stride with Casimir Loxsom (Penn State '13) crossing the line in 1:14.96 just eight one-hundredths (0.08) of a second behind Loxsom - the new world record holder in the event.
Harris is now the collegiate record holder in the 600-meters surpassing the old mark of 1:15.79 set in 2013 by Casimir Loxsom during his senior season in the Blue & White.
Rivers made it three-for-three on school records taking the women's mile in a time of 4:34.87 erasing the mark set by Tori Gerlach just last season when she ran 4:37.83.
Rivers' mark stands as the No. 1 time in the NCAA this season; Rivers is also ranked No. 5 in the NCAA in the women's 800-meters (2:04.04) and No. 6 in the 600-meters (1:29.06), both school record times.
Tessa Barrett, not to be outdone, out on a show in the women's 3K as she paced the field to a school record time of 9:07.22 breaking the record of 2012 Olympian Bridget Franek (Penn State '10) who just happened to be in attendance for the feat.
Barrett erased the record of 9:10.04 set by Franek in 2009 and is currently ranked No. 1 in the NCAA in her event leading the field by two one-hundredths over Michigan's Erin Finn.
The Nittany Lions host the Sykes & Sabock Challenge Cup Feb. 3-4 at the at the Ashenfelter III Indoor Track starting at 5 p.m. Friday afternoon.
For more on Nittany Lion track & field, log onto www.GoPSUsports.com or follow the team on Twitter @PennStateTFXC.
Tessa Barrett, Penn State
So. - Waverly, Pa. - Abington Heights
- Was the top finisher in the 3,000-meter race at the Penn State National Open
- Her time of 9:07.22 currently ranks first in the nation and set a new school record
- Secures the first indoor track and field weekly award of her career
- Last Penn State Indoor Track Athlete of the Week: Tori Gerlach (Feb. 3, 2016)
Danae Rivers, Penn State
Fr. - Derby, Conn. - Wilbur Cross
- Finished first in the mile race at the Penn State National Open
- Set a new school record with a time of 4:34.87
- Now owns three school records as a freshman
- Claims the first indoor track and field weekly award of her career
- Last Penn State Indoor Track Athlete of the Week: Tori Gerlach (Feb. 3, 2016)
Isaiah Harris, Penn State
So. - Lewiston, Maine - Lewiston
- Earned a second-place finish in the 600-meter at the Penn State National Open
- Posted a time of 1:14.96, which is currently the fastest time in the nation
- Claims the third indoor track and field weekly award of his career and second in as many weeks
- Last Penn State Indoor Track Athlete of the Week: Isaiah Harris (Jan. 25, 2017)