NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The Penn State track & field team performed well at the Music City Challenge this weekend. The Nittany Lions recorded six more top-ten Big Ten marks, including Hayley Kitching’s 2:03.90 perfomance in the 800m, setting the fourth-best time in school history.
Penn State performed well in Nashville, with multiple personal bests and top-ten Big Ten marks coming as the result of a strong weekend. The 800-meter run was a bright spot again for Penn State, with Kitching’s 2:03.90 and Yukichi Ishii’s 1:48.35 highlighting excellent improvements.
In addition to multiple track achievements, the solid marks that continue to roll in from Nittany Lion field athletes highlight the team’s preparation for the postseason push with only one regular season meet remaining before the Big Ten Championships at the end of February.
NITTANY LIONS IN THE RECORD BOOKS
Kitching, a first-semester freshman, increased her claim to the fourth-best 800-meter time in Penn State history with a 2:03.90 during competition on Saturday afternoon.
PENN STATE IN THE RANKINGS
Penn State, who is no stranger to top-ten marks in the Big Ten, added or improved upon six of those during competition this weekend. Rankings are based on marks entering competition on Saturday, Feb. 11.
Women’s Events
800m
Men’s Events
400m
800m
4x400m Relay
FRIDAY EVENT SUMMARY
The field events kicked off the competition in Nashville, and Collin Burkhart posted a 63-0 (19.20m) throw to finish fifth in the open section of the men’s weight throw. Tristan McGarrah followed with a personal-best effort in the men’s pole vault, clearing the bar at 15-9 (4.80m).
Penn State’s indoor program record holder, Cecelia Bacon, finished fourth in the women’s high jump with a 5-8.5 (1.74m) clearance. Tyler Merkley continued field competition with a fifth-place finish in the men’s weight throw invite section with a 71-8.75 (21.86m) throw. Luke Knipe slotted in at fourth place in the men’s pole vault invite with a clearance of 16-6 (5.03m).
Freshman multi-event athlete Maddie Pitts posted a personal-best 19-5.25 (5.92m) effort in the long jump open to finish in third place overall.
On the track, the men’s mile squad set two personal bests in a solid all-around effort. Jonah Powell (4:06.28) and Kevin Haas (4:07.56) both set personal…
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