AUSTIN, Texas – 13 members of the Penn State track & field team are set to compete at the 2023 NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships, hosted by the University of Texas, from Wednesday, June 7 to Saturday, June 10.
QUALIFIERS
Men: Austin Gallant (4x400), Savion Hebron (4x400), Callum Dodds (4x400), James Onwuka (4x400), Olivier Desmeules (800), Handal Roban (800), Evan Dorenkamp (1500), Luke Knipe (Pole Vault), Tyler Merkley (Hammer Throw)
Women: Rachel Gearing (800), Hayley Kitching (800), Faith DeMars (5000), Mallory Kauffman (Shot Put)
The men's qualifying group will begin competition on Wednesday, June 7 on collegiate track & field's biggest stage. On Thursday, June 8, the women's squad is set to go.
FAMILIAR FACES
The 13 combined qualifiers that Penn State is sending to this season's championship meet is its largest combined contingent since it sent 21 in 2017. For the men, five of the nine members have competed at the Outdoor National Championships before, with two out of the four women also repeat qualifiers.
Last season, Tyler Merkley Finished as the national runner-up in the hammer throw, earning All-American recognition for his efforts. Additionally, true freshman Handal Roban achieved All-American status for the Nittany Lion men during this year's indoor season, finishing as the NCAA bronze medalist in the 800-meter run.
James Onwuka, Savion Hebron, and Olivier Desmeules return to the National Championships this season following last year's qualification in the 4x400 relay. Onwuka and Hebron will go in the 4x400 again, while Desmeules has qualified in the 800 this year. Evan Dorenkamp rounds out the Nittany Lion returners to the outdoor championships, although the Nittany Lion middle distance star is competing in the 1500 meters at the championships for the first time in his career following his qualification in the 800 during the 2021 season.
For the women, Mallory Kauffman in the shot put and Rachel Gearing in the 800 are both set to make repeat appearances at the National Championships following their qualification last year.
NATIONAL NEWCOMERS
Luke Knipe travels to Austin for the National Championships as the first male pole vaulter in school history to qualify for the NCAA finals. The State College native, and pole vault program record holder, makes his first trip to the championships at the tail end of his senior campaign in the Blue & White.
Handal Roban, Austin Gallant, and Callum Dodds all will make their first outdoor championship appearances in their initial seasons with the Nittany Lions.
THE COMPETITION
The Nittany Lions are set to compete in the following events on Wednesday:
- 2:30 p.m. CT – Men's Hammer Throw – Merkley
- 6:30 p.m. CT – Men's Pole Vault – Knipe
- 6:46 p.m. CT – Men's 1500 Semifinals – Dorenkamp
- 8:14. p.m. CT – Men's 800 Semifinals – Roban, Desmeules
- 9:48 p.m. CT – Men's 4x400 Semifinals – Gallant, Hebron, Dodds, Onwuka
Thursday events:
- 9:10 p.m. CT – Women's Shot Put – Kauffman
- 9:14 p.m. CT – Women's 800 Semifinals – Gearing, Kitching
Friday events – Men's Finals
- 8:12 p.m. CT – Men's 1500 Finals (pending qualification)
- 9:14 p.m. CT – Men's 800 Finals (pending qualification)
- 10:21 p.m. CT – Men's 4x400 Finals (pending qualification)
Saturday events – Women's Finals
- 9:14 p.m. CT – Women's 800 Finals (pending qualification)
- 9:55 p.m. CT – Women's 5000 Finals – DeMars
TUNE IN LIVE
Live Results
Streaming:
Entire meet available to stream on ESPN+
Select Televised Times on ESPN family of networks:
6/7: 7:30 p.m. ET | ESPNU
6/8: 8:30 p.m. ET | ESPN2
6/9: 9 p.m. ET | ESPN2
6/10 9 p.m. ET | ESPN2
NITTANY LIONS IN THE RANKINGS
Six Nittany Lions ended the regular season with four of its NCAA qualifying athletes possessing marks inside the top-25 in the NCAA.
NCAA Top-25
Men's Team
- 5 – Tyler Merkley – Hammer Throw: 241-8 (73.67m)
- 22 – Handal Roban – 800m: 1:47.29
Women's Team
- 19 – Rachel Gearing – 800m: 2:02.98
- T-22 – Mallory Kauffman – Shot Put: 56-4.75 (17.19m)
FOLLOW THE NITTANY LIONS
Follow along with the team on our social media pages on Facebook (PennStateTFXC) and Twitter/Instagram (@pennstatetfxc).