EUGENE, Ore. – Penn State track and field senior Tyler Merkley earned NCAA runner-up status in the men's hammer throw to highlight the first day of the 2022 NCAA Outdoor Championships in Eugene, Ore. Wednesday.
Merkley made a statement throw on his first attempt in the men's hammer throw, as he launched a then new personal best mark of 71.67m (235-1). The throw positioned the three-time NCAA outdoor Championship qualifier in second place through his first three throws.
On his fifth throw, Merkley unleashed yet another personal-best mark of 72.70m (238-6), which broke the school record previously set by Morgan Shigo's 72.47m (237-9) in 2018. He finished as the NCAA runner-up in the hammer throw, the best finish for a Nittany Lion at an NCAA Championship meet since Danae Rivers' indoor 800m championship in 2019.
Merkley's second-place finish earns him first-team All-American honors, the first first-team All-America accolade of his career after earning second team honors in 2021 and honorable mention honors in 2016.
The men's 4x400 meter relay team of James Onwuka, Korbin Martino, Savion Hebron and Olivier Desmeules placed 21st with a time of 3:06.90, narrowly missing out on their season best set at the NCAA East Preliminary round. All four legs of the relay received honorable mention All-American honors.
The Penn State women's team will begin competition Thursday at 9:32 p.m. ET when Yasmin Brooks races in the 100-meter hurdles semifinals. Action on the field resumes at 9:45 p.m. ET with Madison Smith in the javelin throw.
