UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – Penn State track & field continued its competition at the Big Ten Outdoor Championships Saturday. The Nittany Lions delivered several highlights, including sending seven more student-athletes to the final rounds on Sunday.
Ajani Dwyer continued a memorable sophomore campaign with an impressive performance in the 100-meter dash. Dwyer ran a 10.04, setting a program record and topping his previous record set at the Florida Relays earlier this season. The time also sent him to Sunday’s finals and was the fastest in the qualifying round.
Allon Clay delivered in the men’s 800-meter run, turning in a 1:45.11. Clay’s time also was the top performance in qualifying and earned him the third-fastest time in program history. He will be joined in the 800-meter finals by Andrew Regnier and Niko Schultz, who placed third and sixth for the meet, respectively. Regnier’s 1:46.10 also became the eighth-fastest time in program history.
EVENT SUMMARY
The day began with the women’s heptathlon, where Avery Miller took fifth place overall at 5317. The freshman earned the eighth-best performance in program history after a memorable performance in the 800-meter run, which she won with a 2:14.35.
In the jumping events, Hannah Riolo posted another impressive result in the women’s high jump. Riolo matched her personal record at 5-10.75 (1.80m), finishing sixth. Kyle Moore turned in a 23-6.25 (7.17m) in the men’s long jump, while Joe White posted a 23-0.75 (7.03m).
Skye Petrie-Cameron and Sasha Garnett both continued their campaigns in the women’s shot put. Petrie-Cameron placed 10th with a 53-2.75 (16.22m) and Garnett threw a 51-10.00 (15.80m).
On the track, Marie-Eloise LeClair qualified for another Sunday event finals when she placed fifth in the women’s 100-meter dash, clocking an 11.39. LeClair previously advanced to the 200-meter dash finals Friday.
The women’s 800-meter run saw two more Nittany Lions punch their tickets to Sunday. Hayley Kitching advanced after taking her qualifying heat with a 2:01.61, the second-fastest time in the field.
Allison Johnson claimed the last spot in the 800-meter finals at 2:03.35, also moving into fifth in program history. Boh Ritchie ran a 2:05.74, while Tayissa Buchanan finished at 2:09.17.
The steeplechase events both ended with at least one Nittany Lion in the top eight. Allison Dougherty finished seventh in the women’s event at 10:16.61, while Ryan Watson (fourth at 8:54.19) and Logan Strawser (eighth at 8:58.77) scored points for the Nittany Lions.
UP NEXT
The blue and white wrap up the Big Ten Outdoor Championships on Sunday, with the women’s triple jump starting the slate at 11:10 a.m. ET.
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