Gianna Rao Season 2021

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COLLEGIATE PERSONAL-BESTS: Hammer throw - 60.24m, Weight throw - 20.50m

CAREER NOTES & RECORDS
Career: Qualified for NCAA East Prelims in hammer throw event in 2019 and 2021. 
Records: Ranks third all-time on Penn State list in the hammer throw (60.24m) and fourth in the weight throw (20.50).

ON A NATIONAL STAGE
NCAA East Prelims (5/26-29/21): Qualified in hammer throw. 
NCAA East Prelims (5/23-25/19): Qualified in hammer throw.

AT THE BIG TEN CHAMPIONSHIPS
Big Ten Outdoor Championships (5/14-16/21): Placed seventh in the weight throw with a distance of 58.41m. 
Big Ten Indoor Championships (2/28-29/20): Placed 10th in weight throw with a distance of 62-6.75 (19.07m).
Big Ten Outdoor Championship (5/10-12/19): Competed in hammer throw.
Big Ten Indoor Championships (2/22-23/19): Finished 14th in weight throw (18.43m).

2021 Outdoor
Jesse Owens Invite (4/30-5/1): Placed second in the weight throw with a career-best throw of 60.24m. 

2021 Indoor
Placed second in the weight throw with a distance of 18.23m in her only competition of the season. 

2020 Outdoor
Season cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic.

2020 Indoor
Season: Set a personal-best mark in the weight throw event...Won two weight throw events and placed in the top-10 in five other meets.

Nittany Lion Challenge (1/11): Won the weight throw with then personal-best (20.37m). Sykes & Sabock Challenge (2/8): Set a personal-best distance of 20.50m to win the weight throw.

2019 Outdoor
Season: Set a personal-best in hammer throw (59.05m) that ranks fourth all-time in Penn State history...Won the hammer throw event at lone home meet.

Bison Outdoor Classic (4/13-14): Set personal-best in hammer throw (59.05m) and claimed No. 4 spot on Penn State performance chart. Jim Thorpe Open (5/3): Won hammer throw event at lone home meet of 2019 outdoor season.

2019 Indoor
Season: Posted five top-5 finishes in weight throw in eight meets in freshman indoor season...Set a personal-best in the weight throw (19.57m).

Bison Opener (11/30-12/1): Won the weight throw (17.85m). Sykes & Sabock Challenge (2/2): Won weight throw with a throw of 18.97m. Penn State Tune-Up (2/16): Set personal-best in the weight throw (19.57m).

BEFORE PENN STATE
High School PRs: Weight throw: 63-2, Hammer throw: 189-2
Earned eight letters in track/XC and two-time letterwinner in soccer...Named six-time team MVP at Ponaganset High School...Earned five All-American honors...Earned three All-New England honors both indoor and outdoor...Garnered two first team all-state honors indoor and outdoor…Threw fourth-farthest throw of all-time in weight throw for high school girls...Placed as runner-up in weight throw two times at NBNI...Owns the Rhode Island state record in the weight throw...Finished fourth at 2016 New Balance National Indoors...Finished second at the 2017 New Balance National Indoors...Finished second at 2018 New Balance National Indoors and 2016 New Balance National Outdoors...Finished fourth at 2016 New Balance National Outdoors...Finalist at USA Juniors.

PERSONAL
Full name is Gianna Alyssa Rao...Daughter of Paul and Robyn Rao...Has one sister, Aria...Father, Paul, ran track & field at the University of Rhode Island..Majoring in kinesiology...Chose Penn State because “It felt like a home away from home for me, with great academics and big-time athletics”...Born on July 14, 2000, in North Scituate, Rhode Island.