T&F Weekend RecapT&F Weekend Recap

T&F Weekend Recap

Feb. 11, 2017

SPIRE RESULTS

HUSKY CLASSIC RESULTS

MILLROSE GAMES RESULTS

Geneva, Ohio
- Another weekend of Nittany Lion track & field has come to an end as Penn State wrapped up day two of the Spire Invitational at the Spire Institute Saturday afternoon.

Spending the weekend at the site of the 2017 Big Ten Indoor Championships allowed Penn State not only a chance to preview the environment that the Big Ten meet will bring, but allowed the Nittany Lions to get a feel for the track and facility and more than a few Penn Staters took full advantage of that opportunity.

Quenee Dale finished prelims in the 60-meter hurdles with the No. 1 time recording a time of 8.44 seconds, .06 ahead of the No. 2 qualifier in Maryland's Lisa Meneau. A tough open to Dale's race in the finals hampered the junior from Ypsilanti, Michigan as she finished in 10th-place.

The men's 60-meters saw three Nittany Lions on the starting line for the finals in the event as Xavier Smith (6.79), Malik Moffett (6.85) and Dan Chisena (6.98) all ran sub-seven seconds bringing home third, fifth and seventh-place finishes.

Keianna Albury blew the doors open in the women's 60-meters as she ran her way to a new personal best time of 7.41 seconds followed closely by teammate Kiara Lester who also recorded a PR in the final running 7.63.

The 400-meters featured a PR from Tyreek Mathis, a true freshman from Philadelphia, Pa., who turned in a quick one and one-third lap on the 300-meter oversized track running 48.20 in the event.

Mathis' time of 48.20 is the fastest 400-meters by any Nittany Lion this season.

The men's 800-meters got out to a quick start from none other than the reigning Big Ten indoor and outdoor champion Isaiah Harris.

Harris led the way for Penn State in the event running a time of 1:48.03 bringing teammate Domenic Perretta along for the ride as the freshman from Beaver Falls, Pa. recorded a time of 1:48.17 - a new PR.

Rachel Banks highlighted the women's 800-meters as she led her heat from wire-to-wire running a new collegiate PR of 2:08.47.

Keeping the trend intact, Penn State continued to pour in the PR's even in the women's 3K.

Two Nittany Lion athletes entered the event, and both left with personal best times as Lisa Bennatan finished in 9:41.70 followed by Cara Ulizio at 10:06.89.

The Penn State men's 4x400-meter relay raced their way to a first-place finish running a season best time of 3:07.81 for the squad of Dan Chisena, Xavier Smith, Sam Reiser and Isaiah Harris.

The women's 4x400-meter relay put down an impressive performance as well with their fourth-place finish running 3:42.62.

In the field the duo of Alyssa Robinson and Obeng Marfo grabbed second and fourth-place finishes in the women's shot put with their marks of 52'-3.25" (15.93m) and 49'-11" (15.21m), respectively.

The men's shot put saw Jon Yohman and David Lucas bring home top-five finishes in the event as they recorded marks of 60'-3" (18.36m) and 58'-5.25" (17.81m), respectively.

In the pole vault, Penn State school record holder Lexi Masterson took second-place clearing 13'-0.25" (3.97m).

Moffett, who made the finals in the 60-meters, also competed in the long jump finishing competition with a best of 21'-3.75" (7.05m) competing as the only Nittany Lion in the event.

Megan McCloskey finished third in the women's high jump with her best jump of 5'-8" (1.73m).

The men's high jump saw three Nittany Lions in the top-seven as Devin Bradham 6'-7" (2.01m), Austin Campbell 6'-7" (2.01m) and Chisom Ifedi 6'-5" (1.96m) placed fourth, sixth and seventh.

Bryce Williams continues to impress during his comeback campaign as he won the men's triple jump with a best of 50'-6.75" (15.41m) with teammates Kobren Frederick (48'-7.25"/14.81m) and Darian Alston (47'-7.25"/14.51m) finished in the top-tem at fourth and sixth-place, respectively.

ATHLETES WITH COLLEGIATE INDOOR PERSONAL BEST MARKS

60-meters

  • Keianna Albury - 7.41
  • Kiara Lester - 7.63

400-meters

  • Tyreek Mathis - 48.20

800-meters

3,000-meters

  • Lisa Bennatan - 9:41.70
  • Cara Ulizio - 10:06.89

Shot Put

Long Jump

  • Olivia Giambra- 17'-11.50" (5.47m)

Triple Jump

  • Olivia Giambra- 37'-11.50" (11.57m)

Penn State returns to action Feb. 18 for the Penn State Tune-Up at the Ashenfelter III Indoor Track.


SEATTLE, Wash.
- The first west coast trip of the year for Penn State track & field featured an exciting finish to day two as Danae Rivers broke a school record and recorded a NCAA No. 1 performance.

Danae Rivers competed on the west coast for the first time as a Nittany Lion and did so in historic fashion.

The freshman from Derby, CT posted a time of 4:32.55 to win the women's mile in a field of over 80 athletes from all around the country.

Rivers' time is currently the No. 1 time in the NCAA and broke her own record in the event.

Julie Kocjancic ran a PR of 4:40.43 that currently ranks No. 7 in the Big Ten for the senior from Pittsburgh, Pa.

Also running well on the west coast was Greta Lindsley so recorded a new PR in the 3K with her time of 9:41.72.

Colin Abert ran a near PR in the men's 3K, missing the mark by a few seconds, but posting a time of 8:10.54 a seasons best time. Also competing in the men's 3K was Brandon Tubby who ran a time of 8:32.67.

Penn State returns to action Feb. 18 for the Penn State Tune-Up at the Ashenfelter III Indoor Track.

ATHLETES WITH COLLEGIATE INDOOR PERSONAL BEST MARKS

3,000-meters

  • Greta Lindsley - 9:41.72

Mile

  • Danae Rivers - 4:32.55
  • Julie Kocjancic - 4:40.43

NEW YORK, N.Y. - Penn State senior Tori Gerlach competed in the 2017 Millrose Games Saturday afternoon in New York City at the Armory.

The senior, who has outdoor eligibility only, competed unattached in the women's 3K posting a time of 8:54.61 that equated to a 16 second PR for Gerlach.

Canada's Kate Van Buskirk won the event in a time of 8:52.08 followed by New Balance's Stephanie Garcia who ran 8:53.48 for silver.

Gerlach's time would be No. 1 in the NCAA by almost 10 seconds if she still had eligibility.

Gerlach will compete in uniform as a Nittany Lion when the Penn State outdoor season begins at the Pac-12/Big Ten Challenge in Tempe, Ariz. Mar. 24-25.