Track & Field Starts Strong on Day One of Split-Squad WeekendTrack & Field Starts Strong on Day One of Split-Squad Weekend
Matt Rudisill

Track & Field Starts Strong on Day One of Split-Squad Weekend

Nittany Lions collect three top-five program marks on Friday

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – Penn State’s 14th-ranked men’s track & field team contributed three top-five program marks to a strong day one of competition for the Nittany Lions across meets in Boston and Clemson.

IN THE RECORD BOOKS

True freshman Max DeAngelo turned in a 46.55 400-meter dash mark in Clemson, tying Bernard Bennett-Green with the No. 4 400m mark in Penn State history. His time ranks seventh in the Big Ten this season.

In Boston, Ryan Watson threw down a 7:59.13 run in the 3K to take over the No. 5 mark in school history from teammate Nick Sloff. Sloff himself clocked the seventh sub-4:00 mile in Penn State history earlier, going 3:59.63.

In the throws, Nathan Williams moved to No. 4 in Penn State history in the weight throw with a huge 21.70-meter toss. His personal-best mark ranks sixth in the Big Ten this season.

Event Summaries

CLEMSON TIGER PAW INVITE EVENT SUMMARY

Women’s 60m Hurdles

  • Multi-event athlete Maddie Pitts clocked an 8.62, her second-best time of the season in the event.

Women’s 60m Dash

  • Dani Prunzik ran a 7.73.

Men’s 60m

  • Ajani Dwyer advanced to the semifinals with a 6.63 and subsequently clocked his sixth sub-6.6 mark of the season, running a 6.58 for fifth. He capped his day with his second run of the afternoon and did not participate in the event final.

Women’s 400m (Purple)

  • Zoey Goldstein delivered a 54.24, taking second in her heat.
  • Meghan Quinn ran a 55.21 and Mimi Duffy ran a 57.36.

Men’s 400m (Purple)

  • DeAngelo’s 46.55 led the way for Penn State as the true freshman finished second overall.
  • Austin Gallant ran a 47.21 to finish ninth while James Onwuka placed 16th with a 47.63.

Men’s 600m

  • Jesufifunmi Olugbenga posted a PR in the 600m, going 1:18.96.

Men’s Weight Throw (open)

  • Collin Burkhart finished third in the open weight throw event with his second-best throw of the season, a 65-3.25 (19.89m) effort.

Women’s Long Jump (open)

  • Pitts jumped 18-8 (5.69m) to take 21st in the open long jump.

Men’s Long Jump (open)

  • Emi Erekosima (23-0.75, 7.03m) and Joe White (22-11.75, 7.00m) each cleared seven meters in the long jump open.

Women’s Pole Vault Invite

  • Gabriella Recce tied for fourth overall with a 13-7 (4.14m) clearance she got on her first attempt.

Men’s Weight Throw Invite

  • Williams unleashed his top throw on his final attempt of the day, taking fourth overall in the invite section of the weight throw with his 71-2.5 (21.70m) effort.

DAVID HEMERY VALENTINE INVITE EVENT SUMMARY 

Men’s 800m

  • Olivier Desmeules (1:47.17) and David Locke (1:47.47) each finished in the top-five overall in a strong field of some of the top middle-distance talents in the country.
  • Darius Smallwood finished 15th with a 1:48.61 and Allon Clay clocked a 1:49.54 for 23rd.

Men’s Mile

  • Sloff dropped his 3:59.63 mile PR as one of a whopping 36 runners under the 4:00 mark in Boston.

Men’s 3K

  • Watson secured the No. 5 mark in school history with a 7:59.13 PR while Jake Allen was close behind in 7:59.82.
  • Caiden Leen came in at 8:15.75 and Justin Healey ran an 8:17.42.

Men’s 5K

  • Hayden Healey ran a 14:24.86 in the 5K.

UP NEXT

The Nittany Lions return to action Saturday morning in both Clemson and Boston for day two of its split-squad weekend.

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