UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – The Penn State track & field team put on a show in its final regular season competitions of the 2024-25 indoor season, as the group achieved a school record among four top-five program marks that also rank among the top times in the country.
“What a special day at the Ashenfelter indoor track,” said Head Coach John Gondak. “National records set, school records set, NCAA qualifying marks—it was a great way for us to Tune Up for Big Tens next week. I am really proud of how everyone competed today and look forward to the teams bringing the same energy and confidence to the championships next week!”
IN THE RECORD BOOKS
Freshman sprinter Jake Palermo obliterated the Nittany Lion 400-meter school record with a 45.65 in his final meet of the regular season. He became the first Penn State athlete ever to run sub-46 in the indoor 400m and moved into the top ten in Division I in the event as the fastest freshman in the country.
In the men’s 800m, Yukichi Ishii ran a 1:46.41, his indoor PR, to jump to eighth in Division I in the event this season with the third-fastest mark in school history. Teammate Olivier Desmeules lowered his own No. 4 program mark with a 1:46.54.
Penn State closed out the day of competition in Boston where its women’s DMR group of Maddie Ullom, Zoey Goldstein, Allison Johnson, and Kileigh Kane dropped a 10:53.60 to take seventh in the competition and set the No. 2 mark in Penn State history in the event.
PENN STATE TUNE-UP EVENT SUMMARY
Women’s 60-meter Dash
- Lauren Princz won the 60-meter final with a season-best 7.60 after qualifying with a 7.70.
- Dani Prunzik took second with a 7.62 after qualifying with a 7.64.
Men’s Mile
- Caiden Leen won the mile with a 4:07.37 PR.
Women’s Mile
- Hannah Boyle earned the win with a 4:53.62 PR.
- Allison Dougherty took fifth in 5:04.43.
Men’s 400-meter Dash
- Palermo threw down his school record-setting 45.65 PR in the first heat, winning the race by nearly two full seconds over teammate Austin Gallant, who finished in 47.234.
- In the next heat, James Onwuka ran the third-fastest mark of the meet, going 47.235.
- Korbin Martino ran a 47.72 to take fourth.
Women’s 400-meter Dash
- Mimi Duffy won the race, going 56.30 for a new PR.
Men’s 200-meter Dash
- Damoy Allen won with a 21.18 mark while Onwuka set a PR with a 21.68.
Women’s 200-meter Dash
- Meghan Quinn finished first with a 24.28 while Princz took second in 24.68.
- Duffy ran a 25.08 while Addyson White finished in 25.53.
Men’s 800-meter Run
- Ishii earned the overall win with his 1:46.41 while Desmeules took second in 1:46.52.
- David Locke placed fourth with a 1:47.59.
- Allon Clay ran a 1:48.65 and Kevin Haas obliterated the 1:50 barrier for the first time in his career, going 1:48.86 for eighth.
- Luke Seymour placed ninth in 1:49.68.
Women’s 800-meter Run
- Freshman Ada Rand won the race in 2:07.78.
Men’s Weight Throw
- Collin Burkhart (63-7, 19.38m) earned the win as both he and teammate Nathan Williams (63-3.5, 19.29m) cleared 19 meters in the event.
Women’s Weight Throw
- Gabi Deglau took second with a PR, going 58-3.25 (17.76m).
Women’s Pole Vault
- Gabriella Recce placed first with a 13-3.5 (4.05m) clearance.
Men’s Pole Vault
- Jonathan Petersen earned the win with a 16-8.75 (5.10m) clearance, his indoor best.
- Tristan McGarrah cleared 16-4.75 (5.00m) for second and Breckin Swope tied his PR with a 15-7 (4.75m) to take third place.
Men’s Shot Put
- Dylan Lambrecht took home the win with a 58-5.25 (17.81m) throw while teammate Ryan Henry finished second with a 57-6.5 (17.54m) effort.
Women’s High Jump
- Freshman Hannah Riolo finished first with a 5-9.25 (1.76m) personal-best clearance.
- Also setting a PR with the same clearance was Gwen Cudmore, who finished second based on missed attempts.
- Freshman Katie Becker set a PR with a 5-7 (1.70m) mark.
- Jenna Young and Morgan Casey cleared the bar at 5-5 (1.65m).
- Multi-event athlete Maddie Pitts cleared 5-3 (1.60m).
Men’s High Jump
- Isaac Osifo cleared 6-10.75 (2.10m), his second-best mark of the season, to win the competition.
- Tim Watson and Robert Allen finished second and third, each clearing 6-6.75 (2.00m).
TERRIER DMR CHALLENGE EVENT SUMMARY
Women’s DMR
- Penn State’s group clocked a 10:53.60 to take seventh overall.
UP NEXT
Sprinter Ajani Dwyer is set to compete in the 60-meter dash at the USATF Indoor Championships on Sunday, Feb. 23 at 1:19 p.m. Following USA’s, Dwyer and the Nittany Lions will travel to Indianapolis for the Big Ten Indoor Track & Field Championships from Feb. 28-March 1.
FOLLOW THE NITTANY LIONS
Follow along with the team on our social media pages on Facebook (PennStateTFXC) and X/Instagram (@pennstatetfxc).