EUGENE, Ore. – Penn State track and field senior Tyler Merkley earned NCAA runner-up status in the men’s hammer throw to highlight the first day of the 2022 NCAA Outdoor Championships in Eugene, Ore. Wednesday.
Merkley made a statement throw on his first attempt in the men’s hammer throw, as he launched a then new personal best mark of 71.67m (235-1). The throw positioned the three-time NCAA outdoor Championship qualifier in second place through his first three throws.
On his fifth throw, Merkley unleashed yet another personal-best mark of 72.70m (238-6), which broke the school record previously set by Morgan Shigo’s 72.47m (237-9) in 2018. He finished as the NCAA runner-up in the hammer throw, the best finish for a Nittany Lion at an NCAA Championship meet since Danae Rivers’ indoor 800m championship in 2019.
Merkley’s second-place finish earns him first-team All-American honors, the first first-team All-America accolade of his career after earning second team honors in 2021 and honorable mention honors in 2016.
The men’s 4×400 meter relay team of James Onwuka, Korbin Martino, Savion Hebron and Olivier Desmeules placed 21st with a time of 3:06.90, narrowly missing out on their season best set at the NCAA East Preliminary round. All four legs of the relay received honorable mention All-American honors.
The Penn State women’s team will begin competition Thursday at 9:32 p.m. ET when Yasmin Brooks races in the 100-meter hurdles semifinals. Action on the field resumes at 9:45 p.m. ET with Madison Smith in the javelin throw.
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