UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – The Penn State track & field program kicked off the 2021 indoor campaign on Saturday, hosting Rutgers and Maryland for the Nittany Lion Opener.
Saturday meet was split into two sessions with the women's teams beginning competition during the morning session followed by the men's competition in the afternoon.
The Nittany Lions' field events opened competition for Penn State on Saturday, the first competition for the Nittany Lions track & field program in 322 days.
Breana Gambrell kicked off her 2021 indoor season but claiming both the long jump and the triple jump titles. Gambrell's distance of 20-4.5 (6.21m) gave her the top distance in the long jump. She was followed by teammate Audra Koopman who finished second in the event. Gambrell's best jump of 40-11.5 (12.48m) was also tops in the triple jump.
Erica Ellis took home the pole vault title to open the season for the Nittany Lions, clearing 12-10 (3.91m). Finishing second with the identical height, Hailey Zurich set a new collegiate-best by clearing 12-10 (3.91m).
The Nittany Lions picked up first-place finishes in the 60mH (Yasmin Brooks – 8.58), 200m (Jane Madson – 24.77), 1000m (Maddie Ullom – 2:49. 32), mile (Elizabeth Gilpatrick – 5:04.06), 3000m (Faith DeMars – 9:45.27).
2020 Big Ten bronze medalist in the 600m, Antoinette Bradley also opened her season with a 56.77 in the 400m race to cap the performances for the Nittany Lions.
During the afternoon sessions of Saturday's meet, the Nittany Lion throwers swept their events as Tyler Merkley captured the weight throw crown and Ben Peterson finished first in the shot put.
Sophomore Evan Dorenkamp nearly turned in a sub-four-minute mile, running 4:01.91 and bested his previous collegiate personal-best by over seven seconds.
Sincere Rhea, the 2020 bronze medalist in the 60mH, took home the 60mH crown on Saturday by running 7.88.
The final win of the day for the Nittany Lions was behind Ben Bumgarner, who won the men's 3000m race.
The Nittany Lions will be back in action next Saturday, January 23. Penn State will host Ohio State, Rutgers and Maryland at the Penn State Invite.
Follow Penn State track & field all season long on our social media pages, @PennStateTFXC.