UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – Penn State track & field had another historic day in Happy Valley, setting three new school records on the track.
Maddie Pitts started the day hot for the Nittany Lions winning the Pentathlon and setting a new personal best at 4,239 points in her third place in program history mark. Lea Hatcher started the track events off strong with a 4:37.60 in the women’s mile, good for eighth in program history.
Nick Sloff broke his second program record in as many weeks, this time running a sub-4-minute mile at 3:54.90. Ryan Watson finished second in the event, running the seventh fastest time in program history at 4:01.47. Brian DiCola finished third with a 4:01.86, good for eighth in program history.
The Nittany Lions shined in both the men’s and women’s 800-meter events. First, Hayley Kitching broke her own program record with a 2:00.01, edging Boh Ritchie who is now second in program history at 2:01.60. Kitching’s mark is the seventh fastest 800-meter in NCAA history.
Handal Roban led the way for PSU in the men’s 800-meter, running the second fastest mark in NCAA history at 1:44.91, breaking the program record. Allon Clay came next, running the second fastest time in school history at 1:45.17 and fifth fastest in NCAA history. Yukichi Ishii finished third for PSU, running the fifth fastest time in school history at 1:46.37. Both Roban and Clay broke into the top 50 fastest marks in world history in the indoor men’s 800-meter with Roban sitting at 28 and Clay at 42.
Collin Burkhart finished the day strong for the Nittany Lions in the field, he set a new personal best in his sixth place mark in program history in the weight throw at 69-7.50 (21.22m).
EVENT SUMMARY
To start the field events, Alex Pancoast and Gabby Cope came in second and third in the women’s weight throw. Pancoast tossed it 66-0.5 (19.49m) while Cope’s new personal best is 53-1.25 (19.23m).
In the men’s pole vault, Tristan McGarrah continued his strong indoor season, winning the event with a 16-8.75 (5.10m). Staying with the field events, Joe White jumped for 22-8.5 (6.92m), good for second in the event.
The Nittany Lions took the 400-meter in both the men’s and women’s races. Alexandria North took the women’s race with personal best at 54.04 while Jake Palermo took the men’s race with a 45.98.
UP NEXT
The Nittany Lions will return back to Happy Valley for Day 1 of the Penn State National Open. It will be held on January 30 at the Multi-Sport Facility & Horace Ashenfelter III Indoor Track.