April 21, 2018
Virginia Challenge Day Two Results | Bucknell Team Challenge Results
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. - The Penn State track & field team wrapped up action at the Virginia Challenge and a small contingent of Penn Staters competed at the Bucknell Team Challenge on Saturday. Penn State's day was highlighted by junior Maddie Holmberg (Greensburg, Pa.) closing in on the school record in the heptathlon.
In the heptathlon at Virginia, Holmberg finished the competition in first with her personal-best score of 5,736. With her score on Saturday, Holmberg moves from No. 3 to No. 2 in the all-time rankings at Penn State. Gayle Hunter set the Penn State heptathlon record with 5,797 points in 2009.
Holmberg opened up her day with a leap of 20-3 in the long jump to tally 902 points. She then posted a distance in the javelin throw of 127-0 for 642 points and then finished the competition with a personal-best time of 2:19.62 in the 800-meter run for 829 points.
On the track for the Blue & White, senior Greta Lindsley (Lancaster, Pa.), coming off the No. 5 time at PSU in the women's 3,000-meter steeplechase yesterday, improved her No. 10 spot at PSU in the women's 1,500-meter run with a time of 4:20.84 to finish fifth in the event.
Penn State began the day on the track at Virginia with Quenee Dale (Ypsilanti, Mich.) running 13.75 to finish seventh in the women's 100-meter hurdles.
In the women's 200-meter dash, Keianna Albury (Eleuthera, Bahamas) finished second in a season-best time of 23.95, while Kiara Lester (Wenonah, N.J.) clocked in at a personal-best time of 24.05 to place fifth. On the men's side, freshman Terrance Laird (Coatesville, Pa.) placed first (20.84) and Xavier Smith (Douglassville, Pa.) took fourth (21.20).
The men's 4x400-meter relay of Kier Miner (Mechanicsburg, Pa.), Gary Ross III (Fort Washington, Md.), Smith, and Isaiah Harris (Lewiston, Maine) combined for a time of 3:08.92 to finish fourth and for the PSU women, the quartet of Deja Davis (Shelby Charter Township, Mich.), Victoria Tachinski (Winnipeg, Manitoba), Danae Rivers (Derby, Conn.), and Frances Bull (Mentor, Ohio) tallied a time of 3:43.77 to place seventh.
Penn State finished things on the track with Timothy McGowan (Northport, N.Y.) placing 10th in the invite section of the men's 5,000-meter run with his season-best time of 14:01.11.
The Blue & White saw several Nittany Lions tally wins or finish near the top in the field events.
In the invite sections of the men's throws, David Lucas (Lititz, Pa.) took third in the discus (188-5), while the javelin saw Michael Biddle (Williamsburg, Pa.) finish first (228-10) and Mark Porter (Reading, Mass.) place third with a personal-best throw of 215-5.
In the open sections of the men's throws, Matt Nawrocki (Moscow, Pa.) threw 205-5 to place second in the javelin throw, and freshman Luke Grodeska (Neptune, N.J.) finished sixth in the shot put with a personal-best toss of 52-5.25.
The Nittany Lion men captured a pair of titles in both long jump sections as senior Malik Moffett (Erie, Pa.) tallied a season-best leap of 24-7.75 to capture the title in the invite section and freshman Will Henderson (Baltimore, Md.) won the open section with his distance of 23-9.
Also in the jumps, the open section of the women's long jump saw freshman Audra Koopman (Fort Collins, Colo.) place eighth with a leap of 19-0.75.
Junior Devin Bradham (Williamstown, N.J.) took third in the men's high jump with an outdoor career-best height of 6-11.
In the invite section of the women's high jump, Megan McCloskey (Lower Gwynedd, Pa.) brought home the event title with her height of 5-8.50.
At Bucknell, a small Nittany Lion contingent saw personal-best performances from Grace Trucilla (Erie, Pa.) and Jordan Williams (Sharon, Pa.). For Trucilla, she clocked in at 2:11.63 to finish second in the women's 800-meter run and Williams ran 4:32.86 to win the women's 1,500-meter run.
The Nittany Lions now head to Franklin Field in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, for the 124th running of the Penn Relays, April 26-28.