LEWISBURG, Pa. – The Penn State track & field team performed well in its first showing of the 2022-23 indoor season at the Bison Opener on Friday and Saturday.
Five Penn State student-athletes claimed top spots in their events (including a tie in the high jump) over the course of the weekend, highlighted by Mallory Kauffman's shot put effort that not only broke the facility record at Gerard Fieldhouse, but ranks fourth all-time in Penn State program history.
Penn State sent only a select few members of its women's team to Bucknell for the first meet of the season, but a solid performance at the Bison Opener bodes well for the rest of the squad when full team competition begins in the new year.
FRIDAY – MULTI-EVENTS
On the first night of the meet, Chloe Royce and Maddie Pitts competed in the women's pentathlon.
Royce took home Penn State's first overall victory of the indoor season with a score of 3,813. Royce finished in the top spot in the 800-meter run, long jump, high jump, and 60-meter hurdles.
Pitts slotted in right behind Royce with a 3,536, including two top-two finishes and two more top-three finishes that propelled her to the second position in the event.
SATURDAY – INDIVIDUAL COMPETITION
Four Nittany Lions claimed first in their respective individual events during competition on Saturday.
Mallory Kauffman started out the 2022-23 season with an incredible performance in the women's shot put. She posted three throws of over 17 meters, with her top throw, a 17.17-meter heave, breaking the Gerard Fieldhouse record and ranking fourth in Penn State program history.
Penn State received a solid effort by Chibugo Obichere in the women's 60-meter hurdles. Obichere placed first in her preliminary heat to advance to the finals where she placed second with a time of 8.88 seconds.
Cecelia Bacon and Carlie Wilson tied for the top spot in the women's high jump. Both cleared 1.75 meters to achieve first place. Gwendolyn Cudmore tied for sixth place with a 1.60-meter clearance in her first collegiate competition.
Hailey Zurich turned in a 4.11-meter effort in the women's pole vault to claim first place. Teammate Carena Nottoli tied for third place with a 3.51-meter clearance.
Shannon Mullin, taking part in her first collegiate competition, placed second in the women's triple jump with an 11.66-meter leap.
UP NEXT
The Nittany Lions participate in their annual Blue & White Intrasquad scrimmage on Saturday, December 10, and return to full competition in 2023 when they host the Nittany Lion Challenge on Saturday, Jan. 14 in Happy Valley.
