COLLEGE PARK, Md. – The Penn State track & field team closed out a strong opening weekend to their outdoor season on Saturday at the Maryland Invitational.
The team combined for 10 event victories and set several personal records throughout the day.
"Penn State Track and Field continued to bring the energy on day two of the Maryland Invite today," Head Coach John Gondak said. "This was our best meet of the year so far, including indoors, and we are excited about the momentum we are building. We have another great opportunity next weekend in Florida and I am eager to see how we respond."
The afternoon kicked off with a pair of women's distance victories with Alison Willingmyre and Sera Mazza finishing first and second in the 3000m steeplechase and Sophia Toti and Kathryn Munks placing first and second in the women's 1500m run. Sophia's time of 4:29.58 was a personal best. Yasmin Brooks followed with a second-place finish in the 100m hurdles, recording the ninth fastest time in Penn State history with her 13.78. It was Brooks' first appearance in the 100h in nearly three years. Katie Jones posted the team's first field victory of the day with a 3.91m mark in the pole vault.
In their first meet of 2021, seniors Maddie Holmberg and Danae Rivers claimed victories in the long jump and 800m run respectively. Holmberg set the Maryland Kehoe Track facility record with a 6.36m long jump. The result was just .01 off her personal record. Teammate Audra Koopman set an outdoor personal record with her third-place finish, recording a jump of 5.94m, while Taylor Givens posted her collegiate personal best in placing fourth with a performance of 5.88m (19-3.5). In the women's 800m run, the Nittany Lions took the top three spots, with Rivers winning the competition at 2:05.14 and Victoria Tachinski and Victoria Vanriele placing second and third. Tachinski's 2:06.99 was an outdoor personal best and the 10th fastest time in Penn State history. The women closed out their day with a victory in the 4x400m relay, as the team of Amariah Thomas, Victoria Tachinski, Danae Rivers and Maddie Holmberg posted a time of 3:42.15.
Maddie Holmberg with a victory in her Penn State return as well!
— Penn State Track & Field/Cross Country (@PennStateTFXC) March 27, 2021
She narrowly misses her PR with a 6.36 to win the long jump and set a facility record.
Audra Koopman places third with a PR of 5.94m #WeAre pic.twitter.com/mx1T3piP8A
On the men's side, the team earned its first victory of the day in the men's shot put with Ben Peterson's 17.69m (58-00.50) toss. Domenic Perretta followed with a win on the track, placing first in the 800m run with a 1:49.49. Freshman Godwin Kabanda won the 400h in his outdoor debut with a time of 53.93. The Nittany Lions closed out the day with several strong field performances, as Lance Hamilton won his outdoor triple jump debut (15.25m, 50-00.50) and Tom Bojalad set a new PR in the discus throw (52.97m, 173-09).
The Nittany Lions will head to Jacksonville, Fla., next weekend for the Big Ten Invite at the University of North Florida. Competition will begin on Friday April 2.