COLUMBUS, Ohio - The Penn State track & field team capped off a successful weekend at the Jesse Owens Invite at Ohio State on Saturday.
After a strong day to open the meet on Friday, the Nittany Lions once again had a day of victories and personal bests on the meet's final day.
Hailey Zurich (4.08m, 13-4.5) and Erica Ellis (3.98m, 13-0.75) each posted outdoor personal bests to place first and second in the women's pole vault. Breana Gambrell also added to a great afternoon for the women's jumpers, winning the long jump with a jump of 6.27m (20-7) and the triple jump with a mark of 12.67m (41-7). Penn State's throwers also had a big day, with Mallory Kauffman setting a PR in the women's shot put with a throw of 16.33m (53-7) to place third and Piper Klinger setting a PR of 50.29m (165-0) to place fourth in the women's discus. David Lucas got the win in the men's discus with a season-best throw of 57.86.m (189-10).
On the track, Evan Dorenkamp got the day started by winning the 1500m run with a 3:47.42 time. Nittany Lions took three of the top five spots in the men's 800, with William Ashenfelter leading the way with a PR of 1:51.25. On the women's side, the day was highlighted by a pair of personal bests, with Victoria Tachinski placing second in the women's 800m run with a time of 2:05.82 and Ekaterina Hupalo finishing second in the women's 100h with a time of 13.87. It was the second impressive showing of the day from Hupalo, as she recorded a 13.66 in the 100h prelims. The team closed out the afternoon with a strong showing in the women's 4x400, as the Penn State posted a season-best 3:41.83 time to place second.
"What a weekend for Penn State in Columbus!" Head Coach John Gondak said. "This was our best meet of the year and the team really competed well with event wins and many personal/season bests. This will be a great confidence boost as we head into the last few weeks of the season."
The Nittany Lions now turn their attention to the final meet of its regular season schedule when the team hosts the Jim Thorpe Invite on May 7.