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Errol Anderson

Kovacs Qualifies for Paris Games During USATF Olympic Trials

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – Penn State track & field alumnus Joe Kovacs is set to represent the United States at the 2024 Paris Olympics thanks to his outstanding performance in the shot put at the 2024 USATF Olympic Trials. A number of current and former Nittany Lion athletes produced outstanding efforts at the 2024 U.S. trials.
 
Kovacs returns to the Olympics for the third time in the men's shot put. With two Olympic silver medals already in his trophy case, the Bethlehem, Pa. native will go for gold this summer in Paris following his second-place finish at the U.S. Olympic trials.
 
NITTANY LIONS AT THE OLYMPIC TRIALS
 
Joe Kovacs – Men's Shot Put

  • Qualified to his third consecutive Olympics in the shot put.
  • Placed second in the nation with a 22.43-meter effort in the shot put final.

 
Tyler Merkley – Men's Hammer Throw

  • Advanced to the men's hammer throw final with a 73.75-meter mark in the first round.
  • Placed 10th in the nation with a 72.86-meter mark in the hammer final.

 
Morgan Shigo – Men's Hammer Throw

  • Advanced to the men's hammer throw final with a 73.06-meter mark in the first round.
  • Placed 11th in the nation with a 71.94-meter mark in the hammer final.

 
Brannon Kidder – Men's 800m, 1500m

  • Advanced to the men's 800-meter semifinals with a 1:46.48 in the first round.
  • Placed 12th in the nation with a 1:45.81 in the 800-meter semifinals.
  • Placed 34th in the nation in the men's 1500-meters with a 3:40.59 mark in the first round.

 
Samaria McDonald – Women's Hammer Throw

  • Placed 13th in the hammer throw with a 65.46-meter toss in the first round.

 
Isaiah Harris – Men's 800m

  • Advanced to the men's 800-meter semifinals with a 1:46.14 in the first round.
  • Placed 15th in the nation with a 1:46.21 in the 800-meter semifinals.

 
Rachel Gearing – Women's 800m

  • Advanced to the women's 800-meter semifinals with a 2:01.17 in the first round.
  • Placed 21st in the nation with a 2:02.73 in the 800-meter semifinals.

 
Rachel Fatherly – Women's Shot Put

  • Placed 21st in the women's shot put with a 16.89-meter throw in the first round.

 
Darius Smallwood – Men's 800m

  • Advanced to the men's 800-meter semifinals with a 1:46.68 in the first round.
  • Placed 22nd in the nation with a 1:48.82 in the 800-meter semifinals.

 
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