June 21, 2018
DES MOINES, Iowa - Day one of the USATF Championships featured three Nittany Lions advancing on in their respective events on Thursday at Drake Stadium.
The afternoon got started with Nittany Lion alumna Tori Gerlach (Perkasie, Pa.) of Reebok advancing to the final of the 3,000-meter steeplechase with her fifth-place finish in the second heat with a season-best time of 9:48.89. With her fifth-place finish in the second heat, Gerlach automatically qualified for the final on Saturday, June 23, at 4:20 p.m. (EDT)
Junior Isaiah Harris (Lewiston, Maine) won the first heat of the 800-meter run (1:48.71) to secure an automatic berth in the semifinal round on Friday, June 22, at 8:05 p.m. (EDT)
Sophomore Danae Rivers (Derby, Conn.) clocked in at a season-best time of 2:03.27 to automatically qualify for the semifinals of the 800-meter run on Friday, June 22, at 7:50 p.m. (EDT). Rivers went on to place third in the third heat to secure the automatic bid.
Friday's action features three current Penn Staters and Nittany Lion alumna Evonne Britton of Evo TC competing.
On Friday, Britton takes to the track in the first round of the 100-meter hurdles at 4:50 p.m. (EDT). Along with Britton on the track, the aforementioned Harris and Rivers will compete in the semifinals of their respective events. Morgan Shigo (Blandon, Pa.) is the lone Nittany Lion thrower competing on Friday. Shigo competes in the hammer throw at 4:20 p.m. (EDT)