UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – Penn State track & field's Olivier Desmeules and Hayley Kitching were recognized as Big Ten Indoor Track Athletes of the week, as announced by the conference on Wednesday.
Penn State's middle-distance stars are no strangers to Big Ten recognition, as Desmeules, the 2023 Big Ten Champion in the indoor 800-meters, earns his third-career Big Ten Athlete of the Week honor while Kitching collects her second Big Ten Track Athlete of the Week award in a row following a record-setting weekend at the Penn State National Open.
Kitching clocked a 2:01.77 in the 800-meters on day one of the National Open, setting the Penn State record in the event by over a full second and becoming the first woman in school history to go sub-2:02. Her time slots in at No. 2 in the nation this season.
The sophomore middle-distance runner was also a part of the distance medley relay team that set another school record in Saturday's action. Kitching, along with teammates Kileigh Kane, Maddie Ullom, and Victoria Vanriele finished the race in 10:56.26, setting the fastest time in school history by over four seconds. The group became the first Penn State women's DMR team to run sub-11:00 with a time that currently ranks fifth collegiately this season.
Kitching has now set three school records during her 2024 indoor campaign. Her times in the 800-meters, DMR, and the 600-meters all sit atop the Penn State record books. Just for good measure, Kitching's 2:42.94 1,000-meter run at the Nittany Lion Challenge ranks second in school history.
Desmeules garners the third Big Ten Men's Track Athlete of the Week honor of this career following an outstanding weekend at the Penn State National Open.
In the 800-meters on Friday night, Desmeules went 1:47.40, clocking the eighth-fastest indoor 800 in the NCAA this season. He followed that performance with a 1:16.23 PR in the 600-meters on Saturday, setting the third-fastest mark in school history with the third-best collegiate time in the event this season.
Both of Desmeules' marks from this past weekend are No. 1 in the Big Ten heading into competition this weekend.
PENN STATE'S 2023-24 BIG TEN TRACK & FIELD WEEKLY AWARD WINNERS
Jan. 31 – Olivier Desmeules – Mid-Distance – Men's Indoor Track Athlete of the Week
Jan. 31 – Hayley Kitching – Mid-Distance – Women's Indoor Track Athlete of the Week
Jan. 24 – Hayley Kitching – Mid-Distance – Women's Indoor Co-Track Athlete of the Week
Jan. 17 – Cheickna Traore – Sprints – Men's Indoor Track Athlete of the Week
LOOKING AHEAD
Kitching, Desmeules and the rest of the Nittany Lions will host the Sykes & Sabock Challenge on Saturday, Feb. 3. The meet will serve as Penn State's Senior Day, presented by the Penn State Alumni Association.