CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – The Penn State track and field teams put together a strong performance in the hammer throw from both the men's and women's groups on the opening day of a three-day weekend at the Virginia Challenge.
Tyler Merkley finished in second place with a throw of 70.95m (232-9), narrowly missing out on his personal-best mark. Freshman Collin Burkhart followed with a standout performance of his own, as he reached a new personal-best mark of 64.19m (210-7) to finish fifth.
The women's group saw Gianna Rao throw a distance of 58.09m (190-7) to place sixth. Junior Piper Klinger finished with a new season-best mark of 50.17m (164-7). Competing unattached for the second weekend in a row, Nittany Lions Operations Assistant Nayoka Clunis won the event with a throw of 64.08m (210-3).
The majority of the Nittany Lions begin competition Friday at 9 a.m. on the field, with Madison Smith and the women's javelin group to start things off. Action on the track begins at 2:25 p.m. when Lauren Princz is set to race in the 100m dash prelims.
