UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – The Penn State track & field team performed well on Saturday in the Sykes & Sabock Challenge. Both of the Nittany Lions' top-25 ranked squads had excellent performances throughout the day of competition.
The men's 4x400 relay group closed out the day in style, clocking a blazing 3:05.87 in the event, the sixth-fastest time in the nation this season. The mark is the fourth-fastest in school history and set facility and meet records in the Multi-Sport Facility.
Penn State also celebrated its senior class at today's meet with a special in-venue ceremony, presented by the Penn State Alumni Association, before competition began.
TRACK EVENT SUMMARY
Penn State began the day with the short sprints. Cheickna Traore and Pat Abel finished first and second overall, with Traore's 6.64 narrowly missing his school-record time. Abel's 6.72 tied his own fourth-fastest mark in school history. For the women's group, Lauren Princz went 7.64 in the finals to finish third
In the mile, Sophia Toti (4:44.12), Katie Dallas (4:54.37), and Kaylee McCullough (4:59.49) each set PRs for the women's squad in a solid race. Multiple Penn State men set PRs in the event as well, as Christopher DeSousa earned the win with a personal-best 4:05.23. James Kisker (4:08.15) and Jacob Smith (4:09.53) finished fourth and fifth for the Nittany Lions.
In the women's 400m, Ryleigh Hearn claimed second overall with a 56.90 while Matt DeMatteo placed sixth with a 48.74 PR in the men's race.
Handal Roban (1:47.62), Yukichi Ishii (1:48.21 PR), and Carter Fitzgerald (1:48.88) dominated the men's 800-meters with a 1-2-3 finish. Antonio Abrego made his Penn State debut with a 1:52.39. In the women's race, Samantha Hayes went 2:15.01 for fourth overall and a new PR.
In the 200m, Jermecia Brown (24:07) and Zoey Goldstein (24.19) each set personal-best marks in their 2-3 finish. Lauren Princz claimed sixth with a 24.55. For the men, Korbin Martino won the event with a 21.75.
Penn State won the women's 4x400 by nearly three full seconds, with the group of Brown, Allison Johnson, Hearn, and Goldstein going 3:41.90. The race was Johnson's season debut for the Nittany Lions. The Nittany Lion men closed out the meet in dominant fashion, posting a 3:05.87 for the sixth-fastest time in the nation this season and fourth-fastest mark in program history.
FIELD EVENT SUMMARY
Starting out in the jump pits, the Nittany Lions put together a solid day.
In the long jump, Emi Erekosima finished third with an outstanding new PR of 24-1.5 (7.35m). Chloe Royce and Maddie Pitts finished seventh and ninth overall on the women's side as multi-event athletes competing in the open long jump event.
Lizzie Schreiber went 39-1.75 (11.93m) in the triple jump for fourth overall.
Penn State's women's pole vault crew had an outstanding day as well, finishing first, second, and third in the event. Victoria Atkinson, Hailey Zurich, and Meredith Baham each cleared 13-1.5 (4.00m) in the event, with the mark becoming a personal-best for Baham. For the men, Tristan McGarrah cleared 15-8.25 (4.78m) for second overall while Zachary Salas went 15-2.25 (4.63m) for fourth.
Alex Pancoast set a new PR in the women's weight throw, going 57-9.75 (17.62m), almost a full meter further than her previous top throw. She claimed third overall.
Isaac Osifo cleared seven feet for the first time in his career as he won the men's high jump with a 7-0.25 (2.14m) clearance. Tim Watson finished fourth with a 6-9.75 (2.08m) best mark. Gwen Cudmore finished third overall for the women, clearing 5-7 (1.70m)
UP NEXT
The Nittany Lions will split their squad next weekend, with members heading to Clemson for the Tiger Paw Invite and others traveling to Boston for the David Hemery Valentine Invitational.
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