GENEVA, Ohio – The Penn State track and field team had a day to remember in the final day of competition at the Big Ten Indoor Track and Field Championships as three Nittany Lions claimed individual titles.
Senior Domenic Perretta got things started for Penn State, winning the 800-meter run in a photo finish by .01 seconds. The victory was the sixth consecutive win for Penn State in the men's 800-meter event at the conference championships and the program's 12th win in the past 14 years. The victory was the first Big Ten Championship for a Penn State athlete in 2021.
WHAT. A. FINISH! 🥇
— Penn State Track & Field/Cross Country (@PennStateTFXC) February 27, 2021
Domenic Perretta wins Penn State's SIXTH consecutive men's 800m title #WeAre pic.twitter.com/DhwkKbTrVy
Sophomore Sincere Rhea followed by winning in equally dramatic fashion, becoming the first Penn State runner to win the men's 60-meter hurdles at the conference championship event. Rhea, too, won his race by .01 seconds.
Celebrate,@RheaRheasincere!
— Penn State Track & Field/Cross Country (@PennStateTFXC) February 27, 2021
You are the @bigten 60 meter hurdles champion! #WeAre pic.twitter.com/9rh35qd2n1
Fellow sophomore Luke Knipe set the Penn State program record in the pole vault with a jump of 5.30m (17-04.50). Knipe claimed the silver medal with a second place finish in the event.
The success continued into the afternoon, as the Penn State women added to a Saturday of victories for the Nittany Lions.
Penn State claimed two medals in the 800m run, with freshman Victoria Vanriele storming past the leaders at the finish line to claim the program's fifth straight women's 800m title. Her 2:05.59 set a new personal best, as she became the first freshman to win the 800m crown since Danae Rivers in 2017. Teammate Victoria Tachinski claimed the bronze medal in the race, placing third with a time of 2:06.86.
Freshman Victoria Vanriele with a personal best 2:05.59 to claim the 800m and Penn State's third 🥇 of the day! #WeAre pic.twitter.com/OWb5kf642y
— Penn State Track & Field/Cross Country (@PennStateTFXC) February 27, 2021
Two Penn State athletes added points in the pole vault, as Katie Jones (4.15m) and Erica Ellis (4.10m) placed fourth and fifth respectively.
In the women's high jump, junior Cecelia Bacon set a new personal best with a jump of 1.78m (5-10.00) to finish fourth.
In total, four Penn State athletes claimed All-Big Ten honors. Domenic Perretta, Sincere Rhea and Victoria Vanriele received First Team All-Big Ten honors along with their individual championships. Luke Knipe was named a Second Team All-Big Ten recipient with his silver medal performance.