PHILADELPHIA – The Penn State track & field team concluded the Penn Relays with one additional school record and multiple top-three finishes in championship division events.
The Nittany Lions's women's 4x1500-meter squad of Maddie Ullom, Kileigh Kane, Florence Caron, and Hayley Kitching finished third overall in the Championship of America with a school record-setting 17:09.59. The group's time will go down as the sixth-fastest time in collegiate history.
Penn State also produced multiple top-three finishes in championship division field events. Isaac Osifo finished second in the men's high jump with a personal-best 7-0.25 (2.14m) clearance to start off the day. Duane Knisely placed third overall in the men's shot put championship while Victoria Atkinson and Hailey Zurich placed second and third in the women's pole vault championship.
TRACK EVENT SUMMARY
In Penn State's women's 4x1500-meter relay group was the Nittany Lions' first race on the track on Saturday. The group recorded a 17:09.59 to set the school record in the event. The Nittany Lions' third-place effort in the Championship of America race is the sixth-fastest time in collegiate history.
The Nittany Lions' women's 4x800-meter relay group ran the seventh-fastest mark in Penn State history, going 8:43.12 for eighth place in the Championship of America. On the men's side, the group of Evan Dorenkamp, Antonio Abrego, Darius Smallwood, and Yukichi Ishii placed ninth in the Championship of America with a 7:33.21.
A seventh-place finish in the men's 4x400-meter Championship of America for the group of Austin Gallant, Olivier Desmeules, Handal Roban, and Cheickna Traore concluded Penn State's outing on the track in Philadelphia. The group ran a 3:07.57. Traore followed up yesterday's sensational anchor leg with another excellent run, clocking a 45.24 split as the anchor.
FIELD EVENT SUMMARY
Osifo's high jump kicked off the field events for your Nittany Lions on Saturday. With a clearance of 7-0.25 (2.14m), Osifo finished second in the high jump championship division with a new PR. His mark tied the tenth-best clearance in school history and is the best jump by a Nittany Lion since 2019.
Jonathan Petersen placed seventh in the men's pole vault championship with a 15-11.25 (4.86m) mark. Tristan McGarrah reached that same mark but placed tenth in the competition based on attempts. In the women's pole vault championship section, Atkinson and Zurich placed second and third, respectively, each clearing 13-3.5 (4.05m). Meredith Baham tied for eighth with a 12-3.5 (3.75m).
In the women's javelin championship, Audrey Friedman finished 12th with a 128-3 (39.11m) toss. Chris Fredericks finished fourth in the men's championship section with a 222-5 (67.79m) throw.
Penn State's No. 1-ranked men's shot put crew had a solid showing on Saturday, as Duane Knisely took third place with a 60-5.75 (18.43m) throw and Dylan Lambrecht finished right behind him in fourth with a 59-1.25 (18.01m) heave.
UP NEXT
Penn State hosts its first and only home meet of the outdoor season on Friday, May 3. The Jim Thorpe Invitational will serve as the Nittany Lions' senior day.
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