UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – The Penn State track & field team wrapped up its regular season with a solid showing on Friday afternoon at the Jim Thorpe Invitational.
The Nittany Lions produced four top-ten program marks on Friday, highlighted by the No. 2 women's hammer throw in school history from Samaria McDonald. Both Victoria Atkinson and Tristan McGarrah hit top-ten clearances in the pole vault, while Zoey Goldstein collected a PR with the ninth-fastest women's 200-meters in school history.
Penn State concluded its season by honoring its seniors with a special ceremony following the meet.
TRACK EVENT SUMMARY
Olivier Desmeules delivered a season-best 1:49.27 to lead the men's 800-meter runners through the finish line. Antonio Abrego also ran a season-best with a 1:50.16 while Kevin Haas' 1:50.91 is a lifetime-best mark.
Brendan Flynn posted a personal-best 3:55.34 in the men's 1500-meters as the third overall finisher.
Goldstein's 23.63 win highlighted competition in the women's 200-meters, as her mark improved her previous PR by 0.01, increasing her claim to the ninth-fastest time in school history.
FIELD EVENT SUMMARY
Dylan Lambrecht took home the win in the men's shot put, recording a 59-11.25 (18.27m) throw. On the women's side, multi-event athlete Maddie Pitts posted a 41-11.5 (12.79m) PR for third overall.
In the pole vault, Atkinson's 13-8.25 (4.17m) season-best clearance set the No. 3 mark in Penn State outdoor history. Hailey Zurich recorded a 13-4.25 (4.07m) mark for second in the competition. For the men, McGarrah cleared 16-10.75 (5.15m) to tie teammate Jonathan Petersen for fifth all-time at Penn State.
Gwen Cudmore posted a 5-7 clearance in the women's high jump while Tim Watson recorded a 6-6.75 (2.00m) mark to win the men's event.
McDonald won the women's hammer competition with her 213-6 (65.09m) mark, increasing her own No. 2 throw in Penn State outdoor history. She became just the second woman ever to clear 65 meters in the women's hammer throw.
UP NEXT
Penn State travels to Ann Arbor, Michigan for the Big Ten Outdoor Track & Field Championships from May 10-12. The Nittany Lions seek to compete at the top of the conference once again after the women's and men's teams placed in the top three overall at the indoor conference meet in February.
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