UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – The Penn State track & field program heads to Ann Arbor, Mich., for the 2019 Big Ten Indoor Track & Field Championships. The meet is hosted by the University of Michigan at the U-M Indoor Track Building, Feb. 22-23.
FOLLOW ALONG
Dates: Friday, Feb. 22 | Saturday, Feb. 23
Place: U-M Indoor Track Building
Time: 10 a.m. both days | Full Schedule
Watch – BTN2Go: Friday | Saturday
Watch – Flotrack: Both days
Live Results: Both days
LOOKING BACK AT THE 2018 BIG TEN CHAMPIONSHIPS
Last year at the 2018 Big Ten Indoor Track & Field Championships, the Penn State men's program finished fourth, scoring 84 points, and the women finished sixth with 70 points.
The Nittany Lions swept the 800-meter races, with Isaiah Harris winning the men's race at 1:50.15 and Danae Rivers defending her 2017 title with a time of 2:07.75.
DEFENDING HER CROWN
Junior Danae Rivers is the two-time defending champion in the women's 800-meter run (2:06.10 – 2017 & 2:07.75 – 2018).
PENN STATE AT THE BIG TEN CHAMPIONSHIPS
Penn State will be competing at the Big Ten Indoor Track & Field Championships for the 28th time in program history this weekend.
For the Penn State women, the Nittany Lions have won four team titles (2004, 2010, 2014, 2017) and have combined for 41 Big Ten individual and relay titles.
On the men's side, the Nittany Lions are seeking their first team title in program history, but have combined for 29 Big Ten individual and relay titles.
BIG TEN RANKINGS
Heading into the Big Ten Indoor Track & Field Championships, the Penn State women have 20 top-10 marks in the conference, while the Penn State men have 11.
Among the leaders on the women's side, freshman Alexis Holmes has the top mark in the 400-meter dash and Danae Rivers has the top time in the 800-meter run and the mile. Penn State holds both top marks in the long jump, with Maddie Holmberg for the women and Will Henderson for the men.
AMONG THE NATION'S BEST
Heading into the meet, the Nittany Lions have 14 performances (seven for each program) that rank in the top-35 in the nation.
No. 1 | Danae Rivers | Mile | 4:29.47
No. 3 | Alexis Holmes | 400-meter dash | 52.58
No. 3 | Danae Rivers | 800-meter run | 2:02.94
No. 7 | David Lucas | Weight throw | 73-8.75 (22.47m)
No. 7 | Morgan Shigo | Weight throw | 73-8.75 (22.47m)
No. 8 | Maddie Holmberg | Pentathlon | 4219 points
No. 12 | Domenic Perretta | 800-meter run | 1:48.09
No. 16 | Maddie Holmberg | Long jump | 20-5 (6.22m)
No. 17 | Albury, Lester, Tachinski, Holmes | Women's 4x400-meter relay | 3:36.62
No. 17 | Sheva, Holmes, Tachinski, Rivers | Women's DMR | 11:09.85
No. 19 | Will Henderson | Long jump | 25-5.5 (7.76m)
No. 20 | Tim McGowan | 5,000-meter run | 13:46.49
No. 22 | Will Henderson | 60-meter dash | 6.65
No. 35 | Bryce Williams | Triple jump | 50-10.75 (15.51m)
THE BOWERMAN WATCH LIST
Danae Rivers was named to The Bowerman 2019 Women's Mid-Indoor Watch List as announced by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) on Feb. 6. Rivers is the first female student-athlete in Penn State program history to be named to the watch list.
IN THE RECORD BOOKS
The Nittany Lions have not been short of record achievements throughout the 2019 indoor track & field season, etching 11 performances in the record books, including five school records.
SCHOOL RECORDS SET IN 2019
60-meter dash | Will Henderson | 6.65
800-meter run | Danae Rivers | 2:02.94
1,000-meter run | Danae Rivers | 2:38.58 (also the collegiate record)
Mile | Danae Rivers | 4:29.47 (also the 10th-fastest time in collegiate history)
5,000-meter run | Tim McGowan | 13:46.49
NO. 8 IN THE NATION
The Penn State women's track & field program ranks No. 8 in the nation, according to week five of the USTFCCCA NCAA Indoor National Rating Index.
The women are the highest ranked Big Ten team, as Ohio State checks in at No. 10, Wisconsin at No. 12, and Iowa at No. 15.
RETURNING ALL-AMERICANS
Penn State returns three All-Americans from the 2018 indoor track & field season. On the men's side, David Lucas returned for his junior year after capturing the gold medal in the weight throw. For the Penn State women, both Maddie Holmberg (pentathlon) and Danae Rivers (800-meter run) finished seventh in their respective events at last year's NCAA Championship.
NEXT TIME OUT
The Penn State track & field program travels to Birmingham, Ala., for the 2019 NCAA Indoor Track & Field Championships.
The 2019 NCAA Indoor Track & Field Championships will be held at the Birmingham CrossPlex, March 8-9.
To qualify for the NCAA Indoor Championships, the top 16 individuals in each event and the top 12 relays will be selected.
