CLEMSON, S.C. – The Penn State track & field team had an outstanding weekend of competition at the Tiger Paw Invite. Cheickna Traore's school record in the 60-meter dash highlighted multiple top-five program marks and personal-best outings for the Nittany Lions in South Carolina.
Collin Burkhart impressed in the men's weight throw, as his 21.15-meter mark goes down as the fifth-best throw in school history. He became the fifth member of the 21-meter club at Penn State with his best throw on Friday. Tesia Thomas' excellent performance in the horizontal jumps and an indoor-best clearance in the pole vault from Jonathan Petersen capped off an outstanding competition for the Nittany Lion field athletes.
FRIDAY TRACK EVENT SUMMARY
Penn State's multi-event athletes got things started in Clemson in the 60-meter hurdles. Maddie Pitts set a PR in the event, running an 8.81 PR.
In the short sprints, Traore and Pat Abel took to the track in the 60-meters. Abel finished just outside of a trip to the semis, clocking a 6.79. Traore moved all the way to the finals, finishing fourth overall, tying his own school record with a 6.63 mark in the finals. In the women's 60-meter dash, Jermecia Brown went 7.55 while Lauren Princz posted a 7.86.
Ryleigh Hearn (55.93) and Kylie Jacoutot (56.87) each set PRs in the women's 400-meters while Austin Gallant (47.35) and Matt DeMatteo (49.05) ran well on the men's side.
FRIDAY FIELD EVENT SUMMARY
Collin Burkhart became the fifth member of the 21-meter club in Penn State history with his 69-4.75 (21.15m) personal-best mark in the weight throw. His PR improved his own fifth-best mark in school history. Alex Pancoast finished 19th in the women's weight throw, recording a best throw of 54-11.25 (16.74m).
In the women's long jump, Tesia Thomas placed 12th out of 50 with a 19-8 (5.99m) leap. Pitts participated in her second event of the day and recorded an 18-3.25 (5.57m) best jump.
Victoria Atkinson and Hailey Zurich each cleared 13-5.25 (4.10m) in the invite section of the women's pole vault. Atkinson finished tied for sixth while Zurich tied for ninth overall.
SATURDAY TRACK EVENT SUMMARY
The Nittany Lions began track action with the 200m. Pat Abel clocked a personal-best 21.29 in his first 200 of the season, a mark that puts him in the top ten in the Big Ten. In the women's 400m, Jermecia Brown posted a 24.36 while Lauren Princz went 25.08.
Penn State wrapped up the track events with the 4x400 relay. The women's squad clocked a 3:46.61.
SATURDAY FIELD EVENT SUMMARY
Penn State started the day with a 2-3 finish in the men's unseeded pole vault. Jonathan Petersen cleared a season-best 16-2.75 (4.95m) to take second in the competition while Tristan McGarrah cleared 15-11 (4.85m) to finish third.
In the unseeded men's shot put, Duane Knisely emerged victorious with a 59-5.75 (18.13m) toss. Dylan Lambrecht (57-2, 17.42m) finished seventh and Jakub Korejba (52-10.75 (16.12m) placed 14th in the competition.
Thomas competed in her second event of the weekend, setting a lifetime PR in the triple jump with a 41-8.75 (12.72m) to finish sixth overall. Lizzie Schreiber went 39-1 (11.91m) for 15th overall.
Mallory Kauffman made her return to action in the shout put invite section, throwing 15.49m. In the men's shot put invite, Lucciano Pizarro threw a 58-5.75 (17.82m) for seventh overall.
In the final field event of the day, Tim Watson and Isaac Osifo turned in a solid outing in the men's high jump. Watson cleared 6-10.75 (2.10m) while Osifo leaped over the bar at 6-8.75 (2.05m).
UP NEXT
The Nittany Lions will compete once more during the regular season next weekend when they host the Penn State Tune-Up.
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