UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – The Penn State track & field program hosts its second consecutive home meet with the Sykes & Sabock Challenge on Saturday, Feb. 8. The Nittany Lions will honor its 2019-2020 senior class on Saturday at 12 p.m.
FOLLOW ALONG
Date: Saturday, February 8
Location: Horace Ashenfelter III Indoor Track/Multi-Sport Facility
Time: 11:00 AM
Live Results
Meet Schedule
Heat Sheets
ATHLETE OF THE WEEK
Senior David Lucas collected the third Field Athlete of the Week award of his Nittany Lion career from the Big Ten Conference on Wednesday, Feb. 5.
Lucas earned the honor following his season-best performance in the weight throw event at last week's Penn State National Open. Lucas' top throw traveled 72-7 (22.12m) as Lucas was the top collegiate finisher in the weight throw event. The senior from Lititz, Pa. ranks No. 1 in the Big Ten and No. 5 in the NCAA in the event.
Lucas was the NCAA champion in the weight throw in 2018 and earned All-America honors by finishing eighth in 2019.
Lucas and teammate Morgan Shigo made history in 2019 by being the first pair of Nittany Lion teammates to earn All-America status in the weight throw event in the same year in PSU history.
Lucas joins Danae Rivers and Maddie Holmberg as Nittany Lions who have earned Athlete of the Week honors from the Big Ten this season. Rivers and Holmberg were named Track & Field Athletes of the Week on Jan. 29.
LAST TIME OUT
Alexa Parks rewrote the Penn State record books with her performance in the women's high jump event at last week's National Open. Parks set the new school record by becoming the first Nittany Lion ever to clear 6-0 (1.83m) in the high jump, a record that had stood since 1987.
Parks ranks No. 1 in the Big Ten and No. 5 national in the women's high jump following her record-setting performance.
Along with Parks, freshman Sincere Rhea moved his name to No. 2 all-time in Penn State history in the men's 60m hurdles. Rhea turned in his strong performance in just his third meet as a Nittany Lion. The freshman ranks second in the Big Ten and No. 24 in the NCAA in the event.
Senior Danae Rivers improved her Big Ten leading time in the 800m event as she won the women's 800m invitational with a season-best time of 2:04.22. Rivers time is good for No. 1 in the Big Ten and No. 3 in the NCAA. Rivers time is four seconds faster than the next closest conference competitor.
NCAA RANKINGS
The Nittany Lions have numerous student-athletes that rank in the top 20 of their respective events headed into this weekend's competition. The women's program is currently ranked No. 17 in the latest NCAA Division I Women's Indoor Track & Field National Rating Index. The women's program also has three event squads that rank in the top-10 nationally.
NCAA INDIVIDUAL TOP-20 PERFORMERS
Danae Rivers | 800m | 2:04.22 | 3rd NCAA | 1st B1G
Maddie Holmberg | Pentathlon | 4,171 points | 3rd NCAA | 1st B1G
Alexa Parks | High Jump | 6-0 (1.83m) | 5th NCAA | 1st B1G
David Lucas | Weight Throw | 72-7 (22.12m) | 5th NCAA | 1st B1G
Breana Gambrell | Long Jump | 20-3.75 (6.19m) | 17th NCAA | 1st B1G
Katie Munks | 3000m | 9:20.84 | 18th NCAA | 3rd B1G
Will Henderson | 60m | 6.67 | 18th NCAA | 3rd B1G
Tyler Merkley | Weight Throw | 68-7.75 (20.92m) | 19th NCAA | 6th B1G
NYRR MILLROSE GAMES
Senior captain Danae Rivers will travel back to the Armory for this weekend's NYRR Millrose Games and is set to run in the Women's Wanamaker Mile. In 2019, Rivers ran the 10th fastest time in collegiate history. Rivers clocked in at 4:29.47 at last year's Millrose Games.
FOLLOWING UP THE SYKES & SABOCK CHALLENGE
Next week the Nittany Lions will be divided amongst three meets across the country. The Nittany Lions travel to the Iowa State Classic, Tiger Paw Invite and Husky Classic.
FINAL INDOOR HOME MEET
The Nittany Lions host their final home indoor meet of the year on February 21 with the Penn State Tune-Up.
For more information on Penn State track & field, visit gopsusports.com/tf.