June 10, 2017
RESULTS
EUGENE, Ore. - Penn State wrapped up competition at the 2017 NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships from Hayward Field by claiming a top-30 finish as a team while two Nittany Lions claimed All-American Honors.
The first Nittany Lion competitor on Day Four for Penn State was Tori Gerlach in the final of the women's 3,000-meter steeplechase. Gerlach entered Saturday's finals after recording a time of 9:50.54 - the second-fastest during prelims. The fifth-year senior battled her way back into the top-three over the final 200-meters to capture bronze for Penn State in a time of 9:46.76 - the second-fastest in program history and highest finish by a Nittany Lion since Bridget Franek captured the national title in 2010.
Dannielle Gibson returned to Hayward Field for a second-straight season as she competed in the triple jump looking to capture All-American honors as she did earlier this year during indoor. The senior from Nassau, Bahamas finished sixth posting a career best 43'-10" (13.36m) on the opening jump of the competition. Gibson is the first Nittany Lion to earn First-Team All-American Honors since Chi-Chi Aduba finished seventh in 2004.
Tessa Barrett rounded out competition for the week for Penn State as she took to the track for the finals of the 5,000-meters. Barrett finished in 20th-place running a time of 16:18.86 in a season that saw the Sophomore run the sixth-fastest time in program history earlier this season.
Overall, Penn State finished the meet with four All-Americans in Isaiah Harris, Michael Shuey, Dannielle Gibson and Tori Gerlach and finished top-30 on both sides for the fourth time in program history at the NCAA Outdoor Championships.
This concludes the 2017 NCAA season for Penn State, several Nittany Lion athletes are on the cusp of qualifying for their countries Outdoor Championships and will know over the next several weeks if they make the cut.
For more on Nittany Lion track & field, log onto www.GoPSUsports.com or follow the team on Twitter @PennStateTFXC.