UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – The Penn State track & field team had a successful outing during day one of the Penn State National Open on Friday in the Multi-Sport Facility & Horace Ashenfelter III Indoor Track.
IN THE RECORD BOOKS
Penn State achieved five top-five program marks on day one of the Penn State National Open, highlighted by Hayley Kitching’s school record in the women’s 800m. Kitching lowered her own school record to 2:01.14 a year after she first set the record at the same meet last season.
The day began with Maddie Pitts’ superb effort in the pentathlon. Pitts is now only behind Nittany Lion legends Gayle Hunter and Maddie Nickal (Holmberg) in Penn State history after she scored 4,229 points with four event PRs.
Florence Caron (mile, 4:33.39) and Darius Smallwood (800m, 1:46.28) each lowered their own top-five marks, with Caron sitting in third and Smallwood remaining in second in their respective events.
In the throws circle, Nathan Williams cracked the top five in the men’s weight throw with a 21.19-meter toss after threatening to break into the list multiple meets in a row.
TRACK EVENT SUMMARY
Women’s 60-meter Dash
- Dani Prunzik finished in 10th place in the first round, with a 7.62, tying her PR.
- Lauren Princz finished in 27th place in the first round, with a 7.79.
Men’s 60-meter Dash
- Damoy Allen advanced to the 60m finals with a 6.79 in the prelims.
- Allen went on to finish fifth in the finals with a 6.75.
Women’s Mile
- Caron finished in second place overall, with a time of 4:33.39, lowering her own No. 3 mark in Penn State history.
- Kileigh Kane finished in sixth place overall, with a time of 4:34.87.
- Maddie Ullom finished in eighth place overall, with a time of 4:36.33.
- Ada Rand finished in 22nd, with a time of 4:47.68, setting her a new mile PR.
Men’s Mile
- Jake Allen finished in first place overall, with a personal-best time of 3:59.68, becoming the sixth Nittany Lion in history to record a sub-4:00 mile.
- Nick Sloff finished in third place overall, with a personal-best time of 4:01.62.
- Ryan Watson finished in fourth place overall, with a personal-best time of 4:01.76.
- Justin Healey finished in 15th place, with a time of 4:07.93.
Women’s 800-meter Run
- Kitching’s 2:01.14 mark lowered her own school record in the indoor 800m as she finished first overall in the race.
- Allison Johnson finished in fourth place overall, with a time of 2:03.71.
Men’s 800-meter Run - 7:10pm
- Smallwood’s personal-best 1:46.28 earned the win while Olivier Desmeules (1:47.11) and Welsh middle-distance standout David Locke (1:47.54) finished third and fourth.
- Sophomore Kaleb Nastari finished eighth with a 1:49.80.
Women’s 400-meter Run
- Zoey Goldstein set her all-conditions 400m PR with a 53.59, finishing third.
- Freshman Tayissa Buchanan finished with a 56.91.
- Three Nittany Lion newcomers finished sub-58.
FIELD EVENT SUMMARY
Women’s Weight Throw
- Alex Pancoast placed eighth in the final, with a 60-8 (18.49m) personal-best effort. It was her first time over 18 meters.
- Gabrielle Deglau placed 18th in the final, with a 54-7 ¼ (16.64m).
Women’s Long Jump
- Gabriella Recce finished in fifth place overall, with a 19-1.5 (5.83m) personal-best mark.
Men’s Long Jump
- Joe White finished in eighth place overall, with a 22-3½ (6.79m) leap.
Men’s Weight Throw
- Williams finished second with a personal-best 69-6.25 (21.19m) throw that jumped him into fifth place in Penn State history.
- Collin Burkhart finished fifth overall with a 63-0 (19.20m) mark.
Women’s Pole Vault
- Amelia McBain placed fourth overall, with a personal-best 12-5 ½ (3.80m) clearance.
Men’s Pole Vault
- Mason Bucks placed second overall, with a personal-best 16-7 ¼ (5.06m) clearance.
- Tristan McGarrah took third with a 16-1.25 (4.91m) mark.
MULTI-EVENT SUMMARY
Pentathlon 60m Hurdles
- Pitts crushed her PR in the event, running an 8.54 for second overall in the first event of the day.
- Allison Spalding clocked an 8.97 to place eighth while Madeline Söderqvist finished tenth in 9.03.
Pentathlon Long Jump
- Pitts finished in first place, with a 19-7 (5.97m) mark.
- Söderqvist finished in fifth place, with an 18-6 (5.56m) jump.
- Spalding finished in 11th place, with a 16-10 ½ (5.14m) leap.
Pentathlon High Jump
- Pitts and Spalding tied for fifth in the final, each recording personal-best 5-5 (1.65m) clearances.
- Söderqvist placed 12th in the final, with a 4-9 ¾ (1.47m) mark.
Pentathlon Shot Put
- Spalding finished in third place, with a 40-9 ¾ (12.44m) toss.
- Pitts finished in fifth place with a 40-¼ (12.22m) throw.
- Söderqvist finished in seventh place overall, with a 39-2 ¼ (12.05m) mark.
Pentathlon 800m
- Pitts won the race with a lifetime-best 2:13.79 time.
- Spalding took ninth in 2:30.32.
- Söderqvist finished 10th with a 2:36.87.
Pentathlon FINAL
- With 4,229 points, Pitts won the event with the third-best pentathlon tally in Penn State history.
UP NEXT
The Nittany Lions will host day two of the Penn State National open tomorrow, Saturday, Feb. 1, back in the Multi-Sport Facility and Horace Ashenfelter III Indoor Track. Competition is slated to resume at 10 a.m.
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