UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – The Penn State track & field team competed in day one of the Penn State National Open at the Multisport Facility and Horace Ashenfelter III Indoor Track.
The Nittany Lions claimed two event victories in day one of competition, with Chloe Royce winning the women's pentathlon and Tyler Merkley taking the crown in the men's weight throw.
The men's mile field featured six sub-4:00 times and a new facility record at the Horace Ashenfelter III Indoor Track, a 3:55.58 by Liam Murphy of Villanova.
NITTANY LIONS IN THE RECORD BOOKS
Nittany Lion volunteer assistant coach, and 2022 World Champion in the outdoor hammer throw, Brooke Andersen, set both meet and facility records with her 80-3(24.46m) throw. Andersen competed for Nike and the New York Athletic Club.
EVENT SUMMARY
The Nittany Lions began competition Friday afternoon with Chloe Royce and Maddie Pitts in the women's pentathlon. Royce won Penn State's first event title of the weekend, accumulating a season-best 3,925 points across all five events. Royce's mark is currently the number one total in the Big Ten and the 11th-best score in all of Division I. Maddie Pitts set PRs in the 60m hurdles (9.01) and the shot put (34-1.25(10.39m) in her outing.
Following the pentathlon, Jean Starr posted a new PR with a 56-0(17.07m) effort in the women's weight throw.
The Nittany Lions sent sprinters to the semifinals in both the men's and women's 60m dash. Aitana Rodrigo posted a 7.65 to qualify for the semis and followed with a 7.72 in the next round to cap off her day. On the men's side, Kristian Phennicie ran a 6.95 in the opening round and posted a 6.97 in the semifinals. Both times were better than Phennicie's previous personal record.
In the women's mile, Kileigh Kane finished second overall with a 4:38.40 time in her first collegiate mile. Makenna Krebs (4:50.30), Maddie Ullom (4:51.59), and Zoe Duffus (4:59.52 PR) all posted sub-5:00 times, with Samantha Hayes not far behind with a PR of her own at 5:01.09.
On the men's side, Brandon Hontz crossed the line just 0.2 seconds off of his personal best 4:02.00 time, finishing at 4:02.20. Hontz used the nationally-ranked field to his advantage in a solid outing. Jonah Powell (4:06.42) and Kevin Haas (4:07.91) both set personal bests in the event, with Tanner Piotrowski finishing at 4:08.48.
Freshman Hayley Kitching cruised to a 2:06.39 in the women's 800m, posting the third-best time in the Big Ten so far this season.
Penn State crushed the men's 800m, finishing 2-3-4-5 and setting three PRs in the event. Olivier Desmeules led the Nittany Lion pack with a 1:48.47, followed by Darius Smallwood (1:48.60 PR), Yukichi Ishii (1:48.80 PR), and Handal Roban (1:49.01 PR).
In the women's long jump, Tesia Thomas took sixth place with a 18-6(5.64m) leap.
Continuing in the field events, Tyler Merkley took home first place in the men's weight throw with a 71-1.25(21.67m) throw. Collin Burkhart posted a personal-best 65-10.25(20.07m) effort to finish sixth.
In the women's 5,000m, Sophia Toti set a new personal best with a 16:31.67 to come in fourth place. For the men, Hayden Healey also finished fourth, with a personal best 14:30.61. Behailu Bekele-Arcuri posted a 14:35.26 and crossed the line sixth.
To wrap up the evening, Hayden Healey ran a 14:30.61 to set a new PR in a fourth-place finish in the men's 5,000m. Behailu Bekele-Arcuri posted a 14:35.26 to place sixth.
UP NEXT
The Nittany Lions will continue competition at the Penn State National Open on Saturday morning.
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