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Nittany Lions Wrap Up Competition at Multiple Meets

Opens in a new window Rod McCravy Full Results

NEW YORK, N.Y. – The Penn State track & field program wrapped up competition at the Dr. Sander Invitational at the Armory on Saturday, Jan. 25. The Nittany Lions return to the Horace Ashenfelter III Indoor track for the National Open next week January 31-February 1.

Sophomore Tyler Merkley captured the men's weight throw title on the final day of competition. Merkley's toss of 68-1.5 (20.76m) propelled the sophomore to his first win of the season. Merkley's throw occurred in the first round of the finals and bested the competition by almost six feet.
 

The Nittany Lions strong weekend of competition in the pole vault event continued on Saturday in the men's pole vault. Freshman Luke Knipe set a new personal-best mark in the event by clearing 16-2.75 (4.95m). Knipe cleared the height in just his third collegiate-meet on his third and final attempt.
 

Senior captain Danae Rivers opened her season on Saturday in the 800m race. Rivers participated in the women's 800m invitational, competing against five professionals in the event. The reigning 800m indoor national champion began her season running 2:05.2 in her first 800m race of 2020.

Katie Munks ran a personal-best mark in the 3000m to place third in the event. The senior clocked in at 9:20.84, finishing just behind the top two finishers in the race.

Multi-eventer Isaiah Dillard set a new personal-best mark in the high jump by clearing 6-8.75 (2.05m) to place third in the high jump event.

Former Nittany Lion national champion, Isaiah Harris, opened his season Saturday in the men's 800m invitational. Harris ran 1:48.05 to win the men's 800m invitational in his first competition of the 2020 season.
 

LEXINGTON, Ky. – The Nittany Lion sprinters and sprint relay teams finished up the second day of competition at the Rod McCravy Memorial on Saturday, Jan. 25.

Freshman Sincere Rhea qualified for the 60m hurdles final by running 7.91 in his heat of the semifinal. Rhea then etched his name into the Nittany Lion record book by running 7.86 in the 60m hurdles final. Rhea's time of 7.86 is tied for fifth all-time in Penn State history.

Will Henderson and Justin Ofotan each qualified for the 60m dash final by running 6.78 and 6.85 in their respective heats in the semifinal of the event. Henderson finished third in the 60m dash final and was the second-highest collegiate finisher. Henderson clocked a 6.76 in the finals over the event.

The men's 4x400m relay team of Savion Hebron, Rhea, Gary Ross and Karl Johnson ran a season-best time of 3:11.04 to complete the day of events for the Nittany Lions.

Penn State hosts the next two meets at the William Ashenfelter III Indoor Track with the National Open on January 31-February 1 and the Sykes & Sabock Challenge on February 8.

For more information on Penn State track & field, visit gopsusports.com.