Feb. 4, 2017
RESULTS
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - In their third home meet of the season, Penn State track & field swept team titles Saturday afternoon at the Ashenfelter III Indoor Track keeping the Sykes & Sabock Challenge Cup at home.
It was a Nittany Lion sweep saturday afternoon for the Penn State track teams as they brought home both team titles once again on senior day.
Prior to the first running events of the day, the Penn State track & field staff honored their 18 seniors in a pre-meet presentation.
Following the presentation it was down to business as the men's team won with a total team score of 202.50 - 63.5 points ahead of the next closest team - while the women's team battled their way to the team title scoring 161 points beating second-place James Madison (134) by 27-points.
Penn State's Distance crew got the day started with a first through sixth-place finish in the men's mile led by Timothy McGowan who crossed the line in 4:06.73 for the win.
Following McGowan were Jordan Makins (4:08.78), Billy McDevitt (4:09.10), Brandon Tubby (4:11.17), Colin Abert (4:15.43), Domenic Perretta (4:16.13) and Brad Riviera (4:30.46).
The women's mile was just as dominating as Penn State claimed seven of the top 10 places led by Grace Trucilla's personal best time of 4:53.71 with Lisa Bennatan close behind in a time of 4:54.43 that also stands as a new PR for Bennatan.
Finishing fifth through eighth were Marissa Sheva (4:57.42), Natasha Fedkina (4:58.21), Rachel Banks (4:59.59) and Hannah Catalano (5:01.79).
The 400-meters saw Megan Osborne run a season best time of 57.80 winning her heat and finishing fourth overall in the event.
Senior Alex Shisler, a State College native, led the 400-meters for the men with his third-place finish clocking 49.45 for the two lap race - a season best time.
Moving up to the 600-meters, Domenic Perretta took the crown running a personal best time of 1:20.18 followed by teammates Jordan Makins (1:21.05), Riley Gaibler (1:21.34) and Joseph Phifer (1:21.34).
Just like the men's 600-meters, the women's race was a Penn State sweep as the Nittany Lions claimed five of the top-seven spot including a first through fourth finish.
Frances Bull was the lead Lion in the event running a time of 1:32.38 to set a new personal best.
Following Bull were Rachel DeCecco (1:33.91), Elyse Skerpon (1:34.65) and Rachel Banks (1:35.47).
Julie Kocjancic grabbed the 800-meter title with her new personal best time of 2:09.40, while Colin Abert was the top finisher for the men with his fifth-place finish running a personal best 1:52.89.
The next event, the 200-meters, saw two freshman set PR's in the race as Darien Williams (21.95) and Tristan Daman (22.50) finished third and sixth, respectively.
Julie Kocjancic took home a third-place finish in the women's 3K with her time of 9:47.03 - a new PR.
In the field, Jon Yohman once again dominated the competition around him winning the event by almost eight feet with his mark of 60'-0.25" (18.29m) followed by teammate Morgan Shigo who finished with a best throw of 52'-5.25" (15.98m).
In the women's shot put Alyssa Robinson captured her third win of the season in the event with her mark of 52'-3.25" (15.93m) with Obeng Marfo right behind her in second-place recording a throw of 50'-10.25" (15.50m).
The vertical jumps saw all three men's competitors set new personal best as Austin Campbell, Devin Bradham and Spence Hay finish with marks of 6'-8.25" (2.04m), 6'-8.25" (2.04m) and 6'-6.25" (1.99m), respectively, in the high jump.
The horizontal jump of the day, the triple jump, saw all the Nittany Lion jumpers finish in the top-three.
Darien Alston (48'-5.25" (14.76m) and Kobren Frederick 47'-10" (14.58m) took second and third, respectively, for the men while Olivia Giambra 37'-9.50 (11.52m) finished in second for the women.
Penn State will hit the road for the second time this season as they compete in two meets Feb. 10-11. A select group of athletes will compete in the Husky Classic in Seattle, Washington while the majority of the team will compete in the Spire Invitational at the Spire Center - the site of the Big Ten Indoor Championships - in Geneva, Ohio.
ATHLETES WITH COLLEGIATE INDOOR PERSONAL BEST MARKS
MILE
- Billy McDevitt - 4:09.10
- Brandon Tubby - 4:11.17
- Domenic Perretta - 4:16.13
- Brad Rivera - 4:30.46
- Grace Trucilla - 4:53.71
- Lisa Bennatan - 4:54.43
- Marissa Sheva - 4:57.42
- Natasha Fedkina - 4:58.21
- Rachel Banks - 4:59.50
- Hannah Catalano - 5:01.79
600-METERS
- Domenic Perretta - 1:20.18
- David Marrington - 1:22.41
- William Ashenfelter - 1:22.44
- Billy McDevitt - 1:24.74
- Frances Bull - 1:32.38
- Rachel DeCecco - 1:33.91
- Elyse Skerpon - 1:34.65
- Rachel Banks - 1:35.47
- Marissa Sheva - 1:37.19
- Grace Trucilla - 1:37.59
800-METERS
- Colin Abert - 1:52.89
- Julie Kocjancic - 2:09.40
- Natasha Fedkina - 2:15.24
- Nicole O'Donnell - 2:17.69
200-METERS
- Darien Williams - 21.95
- Tristan Daman - 22.50
3,000-METERS
- Julie Kocjancic - 9:47.03
- Noemie Nollet - 10:09.63
TRIPLE JUMP
- Darian Alston - 48'-5.25" (14.76m)
- Olivia Giambra - 37'-9.50" (11.52m)
HIGH JUMP
- Austin Campbell - 6'-8.25" (2.04m)
- Devin Bradham - 6'-8.25" (2.04m)
- Spence Hay - 6'-6.25" (1.99m)