Dec. 8, 2017
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - The Penn State cross country and track & field program hosted its fourth-annual awards banquet Thursday night in Banquet Hall at the Nittany Lion Inn with several student-athletes receiving recognition through awards voted on by the coaches.
The 2017 indoor track & field season saw the women's team record a first-place, while the men placed second - the highest combined finish in program history. Along with the fourth Big Ten indoor title in program history, it was the 13th-consecutive year the women have been in the top-four. The men's and women's teams combined for seven All-Americans with the women's team finishing T-10th at the NCAA indoor championships in College Station, Texas to close out the indoor season.
During the 2017 Big Ten outdoor track & field championships the Penn State men captured the first Big Ten championship in program history while the women battled to a third-place finish. The men's team wrapped up the outdoor season recording their third-straight top-20 finish at the national championships for the first time since 1921-23. At the NCAA Championships in Eugene, Ore. Penn State finished the season with four All-American performances including an NCAA runner-up performance by Isaiah Harris in the 800-meters. Harris would go on to compete in the semifinal of the 800-meters at IAAF World Championships in London, England representing Team USA.
This fall semester saw the cross country teams finish fourth and tied for seventh, respectively, at the Big Ten championships. At the Mid-Atlantic regional, the women's team captured its third-straight regional title, dominating the field by putting its top-five in the top-10. Eight Nittany Lions were named All-Region for their performances at the meet in Bethlehem, Pa.
At the NCAA Championships in Louisville, Ky. The women's team finished in the top-20 for a third-straight season while the men's team was represented at the meet by Timothy McGowan and Colin Abert for the first time since 2014.
AWARDS RECAP
MEN T&F
MVP
Freshman of the Year
Most Improved
Most Inspirational
Coaches' Awards
Men's Indoor 4x400 Meter Relay
WOMEN T&F
MVP
Dannielle Gibson
Danae Rivers
Freshman of the Year
Danae Rivers
Most Improved
Keianna Albury
Maddie Holmberg
Most Inspirational
Megan McCloskey
Jillian Hunsberger
Coaches' Awards
Tessa Barrett
Hannah Mulhern
Tori Gerlach
MEN XC
MVP
Most Improved
Newcomer of the Year
Andrew Sell
WOMEN XC
MVP
Jillian Hunsberger
Freshman of the Year
Alison Willingmyre
Most Improved
Danae Rivers
Most Inspirational
NCAA Regional Top-5
Jillian Hunsberger
Alison Willingmyre
Kathryn Munks
Danae Rivers
Greta Lindsley
Track & Field School Records Broken
Indoor (10)
Xavier Smith
60-Meter Dash
6.66
Malik Moffett
200-Meter Dash
20.76
Isaiah Harris
600-Meter Run | Collegiate Record
1:14.96
Indoor 4x400-Meter Relay | Big Ten Meet Record
Dan Chisena, Xavier Smith, Samuel Reiser & Isaiah Harris
3:04.80
Danae Rivers
800-Meter Run
2:04.04
Danae Rivers
1-Mile Run
4:32.55
Tessa Barrett
3000-Meter Run
9:07.22
Tessa Barrett
5000-Meter Run
15:28.99
Danae Rivers
600-Meter Run
1:29.06
Distance Medley Relay
Danae Rivers, Julie Kocjancic, Tichina Rhodes & Rachel Banks
11:01.16
Outdoor (19)
Xavier Smith
100-meters
10.32
Morgan Shigo
Hammer Throw
222-11 (67.94)
Malik Moffett
Long Jump
26-3 (8.00)
Michael Shuey
Javelin
262-2 (79.91)
Danae Rivers
800-Meter Run
2:02.53
4x800-Meter Relay
Tori Gerlach, Julie Kocjancic, Danae Rivers & Rachel Banks
8:25.49
Distance Medley Relay
Tori Gerlach, Tichina Rhodes, Danae Rivers & Rachel Banks
10:56.07
Hannah Mulhern
Pole Vault
13-5.25 (4.10)
Isaiah Harris
800-Meter Run
1:44.53
4x100-Meter Relay
Dan Chisena, Malik Moffett, Xavier Smith & Karson Kowalchuk
39.06