AUSTIN, Texas – Three members of the Penn State track & field team's women's group were in action on day two of the 2023 NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships, with two bringing home All-America honors.
"What an unbelievable series today for Mallory in the shot put at the NCAA finals," said head coach John Gondak. "She re-set the school record three times on her way to throwing 59 feet and earning First Team All-America honors. The women's 800 runners raced tough with Rachel [Gearing] coming up just short of the finals. We now head into the final day of women's competition on Saturday with three points on the board."
Mallory Kauffman's historic All-American outing in the shot put capped off a fantastic 2023 season. Kauffman became Penn State's second-ever female First Team All-American in the shot put, and the squad's first in the event since 1984. The junior posted a 59-0.75 (18.00m) effort, breaking her own school record and becoming the first Penn State woman to reach 18 meters in the shot put. Kauffman re-set the school record three times during her series, placing her sixth in the nation.
Kauffman joins Tyler Merkley of the men's squad as First Team All-America honorees this season, marking the first time both the men's and women's squads have produced first team athletes in the same year since 2018. Additionally, Kauffman's First Team All-American designation is the first by a female in the throws events at Penn State since Laura Loht in the javelin during the 2014 season.
In the 800, Rachel Gearing earned Second Team All-American recognition with a 15th-place finish in the NCAA, going 2:03.51 in heat one. Hayley Kitching wrapped up her first season in the Blue & White with her first trip to the NCAA Championships.
The Penn State women will enter competition on Saturday with three points, with Faith DeMars' 5K outing the last remaining event.
UP NEXT
Evan Dorenkamp and Handal Roban will take to the track on day three of the NCAA Outdoor Championships tomorrow evening in the 1500-meter finals and 800-meter finals, respectively. The 1500 will take place at 9:12 p.m. ET while the 800 will go at 10:15 p.m. ET. Both races can be viewed on ESPN2.
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