INDIANAPOLIS – Maddie Pitts set a program record with 4,384 points on her way to her third-consecutive bronze medal in the pentathlon Thursday to highlight Penn State’s opening day of the Big Ten Indoor Track and Field Championships at the Indiana State Fairgrounds. Niko Schultz shined on the men’s side, breaking meet and facility records in a qualifying heat of the 600-meter run.
Pitts claimed bronze in the pentathlon thanks to strong performances in the 60-meter hurdles and long jump. She posted the fastest time in the field in the hurdles event, clocking in at 8.34. That ranks as the seventh-fastest time in program history. Her mark of 20-5.75 (6.24m) in the long jump placed her third and moves her into sixth in the program record book. Pitts was also third in the shot put with a throw of 42-4.25 (12.91m) and was fourth in the 800-meter run (2:16.68).
Penn State’s previous pentathlon record of 4,342 points set by Gayle Hunter had stood since 2009.
MEDALISTS
W Pentathlon
Pitts was the first of two medalists for the Penn State women on the opening day with her third-place finish in the pentathlon.
W Distance Medley Relay
The women also closed the first day with medalist honors as the distance medley relay team of Hayley Kitching, Alexandria North, Boh Ritchie, and Ada Rand secured third in the with a time of 10:57.52
M 5000m
Nick Sloff earned bronze in the 5000m with a time of 13:49.93
FINALS QUALIFIERS
M 600m
The trio of Schultz, Allon Clay, and Handal Roban all qualified for the final, which will run on Saturday.
M 200m
Ajani Dwyer heads to the 200m final after a 20.51 finish gave him a PR and the second-fastest time in program history.
IN THE RECORD BOOKS
Maddie Pitts
Pentathlon – Program Record (4,384 points)
Long jump – 6th in program history (20-5.75)
60M Hurdles – 7th in program history (8.34)
Niko Schultz
600m – Meet Record, Facility Record, 10th in NCAA history, 3rd in program history (1:15.22)
Allon Clay
600m – Japanese record, 15th in NCAA history (1:15.47)
Ajani Dwyer
200m – 2nd in program history (20.51)
UP NEXT
Penn State is set to continue the competition at the Big Ten Indoor Championships Friday beginning at 11:30 a.m.
FOLLOW THE NITTANY LIONS
Follow along with the team on our social media pages on Facebook (PennStateTFXC) and X/Instagram (@pennstatetfxc).