UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – Penn State Track & Field's Mallory Kauffman was recognized as the women's recipient of the Big Ten's Indoor Track & Field Athlete of the Week honor, as announced by the conference on Dec. 7.
Kauffman, a senior majoring in elementary & early childhood education, dominated competition in Lewisburg on Saturday, claiming first place in the shot put event by nearly four meters. Her 17.17-meter throw at the Bison Opener was the top effort in the nation in the opening weekend of competition. Sarah Omoregie of Harvard (16.45m) and Jasmine Van Note of Rutgers (15.62m) slotted in behind Kauffman as the top three in the country.
The senior's performance in her first competition of the season broke the facility record in Bucknell's Gerard Fieldhouse, a mark that has stood since 2002.
This marks the first time that Kauffman has brought home this award in her career and she became the first Nittany Lion women's field athlete to win it since Maddie Holmberg in 2020. Penn State brought home seven Big Ten Track & Field Athlete of the Week awards during the 2021-22 indoor and outdoor seasons.
Last season, Kauffman's 17.19m throw from the Penn State Tune Up in February, slots in at third in program history in the indoor shot put event. She also earned Second-Team All-American honors for her tenth-place finish in the shot put at the NCAA Indoor Championships. As evidenced by a solid showing in her first competition of the 2022-23 slate, Kauffman is poised for another strong indoor campaign.
Kauffman and the Nittany Lions will compete this weekend in the team's annual Blue & White Intrasquad Scrimmage and will return to full competition on Jan. 14, 2023 when they host the Nittany Lion Challenge here in Happy Valley.
