PHILADELPHIA, Pa. – The Penn State track and field teams opened the 2025 outdoor season with a strong showing at the Penn Challenge in Philadelphia Saturday as eight Nittany Lions earned first-place finishes.
TOP PERFORMANCES
Collin Burkhart and Nathan Williams dominated the men’s hammer throw, earning first and second place, respectively. Burkhart took control of the entire event, registering a 65.42m throw to earn first-place merits. Williams followed Burkhart to place second as Penn State swept the top two spots.
Joe White won the men’s long jump won, recording a 7.07m (23-02.50) leap.
On the women’s side, Gabi Deglau placed first overall in the hammer throw, attaining a 56.13m throw, a new PR. Alex Pancoast finished second behind Deglau as she recorded a 51.81m throw and Penn State earned the top two spots.
Hannah Riolo continued her persistence in the women’s high jump, earning first-place accolades after recording a 1.71m jump. Audrey Friedman won the women’s javelin as she recorded a 44.45m (145-10) throw. Victoria Atkinson tied for first in the women’s pole vault, recording a mark of 3.88m (12-08.75).
Lauren Princz clocked a 24.40 in the women’s 200m to take home a first-place finish.
EVENT SUMMARIES
TRACK EVENT SUMMARY
Women’s 100m
· Lauren Princz finished second overall, recording a time of 12.00.
· Dani Pruznik placed fifth, running at a time of 12.20.
Women’s 200m
· Princz won the 200m, at a time of 24.40.
· Pruznik ran at a time of 25.03 to place fourth overall.
Women’s 400m
· Harriett Healey finished fourth overall with a time of 57.90.
Women 100m Hurdles
· Allison Spalding finished seventh overall with a time of 15.26 in the 100m hurdles in her second event of the day.
Men’s 100m
· Scotty Coffi earned fourth-place accolades, running at a time of 11.00 and setting a PR.
Men’s 200m
· Coffi raced in the 200m, finishing sixth overall with a personal-record time of 22.50.
FIELD EVENT SUMMARY
Women’s High Jump
· Freshman Riolo finished first overall in the women’s high jump, recording a 1.71m (5-07.25) leap.
· Jenna Young and Morgan Casey tied for fourth place overall with a 1.66m (5-05.25) jump; Young tied her career high jump of 1.66m.
· Gwen Cudmore ended eighth overall, recording a jump of 1.61m (5-03.25).
Women’s Long Jump
· Spalding finished 11th overall with a 4.95m (16-03.00) jump.
Women’s Pole Vault
· Victoria Atkinson tied for first with an athlete from Penn, recording 3.88m (12-08.75).
· Gabriella Recce took third place with a mark of 3.73m (12-02.75).
Women’s Hammer
· Deglau placed first overall with a 56.13m (184-02) throw to set a PR.
· Pancoast placed second overall with a 51.82m throw (170-00).
Women’s Javelin
· Audrey Friedman recorded a 44.45m (145-10) throw, earning first place in the event.
Men’s Pole Vault
· Tristan McGarrah and Mason Bucks tied for second place in pole vault, both recording 48m (16-00.00).
Men’s High Jump
· Isaac Osifo took first place overall in the high jump, with a leap of 2.10m (6-10.75).
· Robert Allen tied for second with an athlete for Penn, jumping 2.00m (6-06.75).
Men’s Hammer
· Burkhart placed first overall, recording a 65.42m (214-07) throw, just .1m shy of tying his PR.
· Williams earned second with a 64.05m (210-01) throw.
Men’s Long Jump
· White won the long jump, recording a 7.07m (23-02.50) leap.
UP NEXT
The Nittany Lions are back in action next weekend at both the Raleigh Relays (Thursday-Saturday) and the LSU Battle on the Bayou (Friday-Saturday).
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