T&F Rewind: 123rd Penn RelaysT&F Rewind: 123rd Penn Relays

T&F Rewind: 123rd Penn Relays

May 3, 2017

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - It was a busy week for Penn State Track & Field as the Nittany Lions competed at the 123rd Penn Relays where head coach John Gondak's squads brought home a Championship of America title in one event along with 12 second-place finishes and four school records at Franklin Field in Philadelphia.

One of the four school records broken over the weekend was the men's javelin throw where Michael Shuey added a few more feet to his record from 2014.

Shuey, along with Michael Biddle and Ryan Kerr finished 2-3-4 in the Championship section of the javelin throw. Shuey led the way finishing with a school record mark of 250'-1" (76.25m) improving upon the old mark of 249-5 (76.02) from 2014. Biddle at 232'-4" (70.82m) and Kerr at 227'-1" (69.22m) both set personal best marks with their performances and are currently the No. 6 and No. 11 marks in program history.

Another of the four school records broken this past weekend was the men's 4x100-meter relay who eclipsed the school record pace for the second time this season (PAC-12/Big Ten Challenge). Behind the efforts of Karson Kowalchuk, Dan Chisena, Xavier Smith and Malik Moffett the relay carried the baton for a combined 39.48 seconds for a fourth-place finish in the championship section of the men's 4x100-meters, shaving off one one-hundredth of a second from the old school record pace of 39.49.

This Nittany Lion lineup has produced three sub-40 second performances which is more than were on the record books prior to the arrival of second-year sprints coach Erin Tucker in the summer of 2015.

The women's 4x800-meter relay - a two-mile race - came down to the wire in the final of the championship section as Tori Gerlach (2:07.12), Julie Kocjancic (2:06.64), Rachel Banks (2:07.08) and Danae Rivers (2:04.66) combined to run 8:25.49 absolutely eviscerating the old school record of 8:38.17 set earlier this season. The quartet finished second to only Villanova who won their Penn Relays record 12th title in the event with their time of 8:24.87

The final school record broken at the Penn Relays was the women's Distance Medley Relay where Tori Gerlach (3:23.24), Tichina Rhodes (53.77), Rachel Banks (2:08.02) and Danae Rivers (4:31.05) combined to run 10:56.07 erasing the old mark of 11:08.41 set by Rebekka Simko, Ije Iheoma, Marta Klebe and Kara Millhouse from 2012. The relay finished second trailing only Villanova in the championship section of the DMR and was anchored by the fastest split in the event (Rivers).

A few All-Time top-10 program marks were also set this weekend over multiple events.

David Lucas posted a personal best performance in the men's discus on the opening throw of competition with his mark of 201'-6" (61.43m) that is the third-best mark in the event in school history.

Madeline Holmberg had a career day in the long jump, posting a lifetime best in the event and taking second-place in the College Women's Long Jump Championship. Holmberg jumped out to a mark of 20'-4.25" (6.20m) that is tied for the eighth-best jump in program history matching the mark set by Monique Gillman in 1997.

In the college section, Kory Decesaris grabbed the win with a huge personal best of 203'-10" (62.13m), adding over five feet from his previous best from 2015. Decesaris' mark is the fourth-best in program history.
Bryce Williams made the most of every jump finishing third in the championship section of the men's triple jump with a personal best of 52'-0" (15.85m) that was achieved on the final jump of the competition. Williams' mark moves him up the all-time top-10 list from No. 9 to No. 6.

Dannielle Gibson captured the event with a jump of 43'-6" (13.26m) that she achieved on her first jump of the competition. Gibson won the event by over four inches and is the first Nittany Lion woman to win a triple jump title at the Penn Relays in program history.

Morgan Shigo finished the hammer throw with a best of 214'-2" (65.28m), finishing fourth in the championship section. In the college section, Kory Decesaris grabbed the win with a huge personal best of 203'-10" (62.13m), adding over five feet from his previous best from 2015. Decesaris' mark is the fourth-best in program history.

Penn State has captured 87 Penn Relay titles in program history dating back to 1910.

Penn State will host the Jim Thorpe this Friday, May 5 before welcoming 13 schools to Happy Valley for the 2017 Big Ten Outdoor Track & Field Championships May 12-14 at the Nittany Lion Outdoor Track.

For more on Nittany Lion track & field, log onto www.GoPSUsports.com or follow the team on Twitter @PennStateTFXC.

ATHLETES WITH COLLEGIATE OUTDOOR PERSONAL BEST MARKS

*School Record