EUGENE, Ore. – The Penn State men’s and women’s track and field teams finished day one of the Big Ten Outdoor Championships with two medalists and four Nittany Lions punching their tickets to event finals Friday in Eugene, Ore.
MEDALISTS
Florence Caron and Sophia Toti finished 2-3 in the women’s 10,000-meter race. Caron ran at a time of 32:32.55 to finish in second place, while Toti ran at a time of 32:58.91 to finish behind Caron in third place.
SCORING EVENTS
Caron and Toti’s performances in the women’s 10,000-meter race earned the Penn State women’s team 14 points to end day one of the championships in second place overall on the women’s side.
FINALS QUALIFIERS
Ajani Dwyer finished fifth in the 200-meter race prelims with a personal-record time of 20.51 to qualify for Sunday’s finals. His time of 20.51 lowered his own No. 5 mark in program history.
A trio of Nittany Lions finished within the top 10 of the the women’s 1500-meter race to qualify for the final round. Maddie Ullom placed fourth (4:17.40), Kileigh Kane placed fifth (4:17.42) and Ada Rand placed ninth (4:18.98).
MULTI-EVENTS
Maddie Pitts and Madeleine Soderqvist completed four events in the heptathlon.
Pitts took the win in the 200-meter race, clocking in at a personal best of 23.77 while also recording a personal best in the high jump (1.72m, 5-7 ¾) for a third-place finish.
Soderqvist recorded personal bests in the 100-meter hurdles (14.40), shot put (12.24m. 40-2) and 200-meter race (26.37).
UP NEXT
The Penn State track and field teams return to Hayward Field for day two of the Big Ten Outdoor Track and Field Championships Saturday.
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TRACK EVENTS
Heptathlon 100-meter Hurdles
- Soderqvist finished in 14.40 to set a new PR.
Heptathlon 200-meter
- Pitts won the race at 23.77 to set a new PR.
Women’s 1500-meter
- Ullom finished in fourth place at 4:17.40 to qualify for the finals.
- Kane finished in fifth place at 4:17.42 to qualify for the finals.
- Rand finished in ninth place at 4:18.98 to qualify for the finals.
Women’s 10,000-meter
- Caron finished in second place at 32:32.55.
- Toti finished in third place at 32:58.91.
Men’s 200-meter
- Dwyer lowered his PR to 20.51 after a sixth-place finish to quality for the finals.
FIELD EVENT SUMMARY
Heptathlon High Jump
- Pitts placed third, setting a new PR of 1.72m (5-7 ¾).
Heptathlon Shot Put
- Pitts recorded a 12.40m (40-8 ¼) throw to place sixth.
- Soderqvist set a new PR with a 12.24m (40-2) throw to finish in seventh place.
Men’s Hammer Throw
- Nathan Williams placed ninth after recording a 65.91m (216-3) throw.
- Collin Burkhart recorded a 64.00m (210-0) throw and finished 12th.