A group of 10 Penn State track and field athletes will take on the nation’s best this week when the Nittany Lions compete at the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships at Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon, from June 10-13, capping a season that has produced several standout performances and program bests.
Headlining the group are 800-meter runners from both the men’s and women’s side, including Allon Clay and Hayley Kitching, who earned first-team All-Big Ten honors after claiming gold at the conference championships.
At the regional finals in late May, Clay posted a 1:44.63 time, the fastest among all competitors, while Kitching ran 1:59.15, the third-fastest mark among women. Kitching has the opportunity to become Penn State’s first women’s 800-meter champion since Danae Rivers in 2019, while Clay could become the first Nittany Lion man to win since Isaiah Harris in 2018.
Clay will be joined by fellow 800-meter contestants Nike Schultz and Yukichi Ishii, who respectively finished eighth and 11th overall at the regional meet.
Additionally, Nick Sloff will represent Penn State in the 1500-meter championship after placing fifth at the regional meet with a 3:43.33 time to clinch a qualifying spot.
Sprinter Ajani Dwyer punched his ticket after running a 9.99-second 100-meter dash, placing third overall and first in his heat.
From the field events, Collin Burkhart was the first Nittany Lion to clinch a nationals appearance after throwing 221’2, the sixth-furthest distance at the regional event.
A trio of shot put contestants also qualified, with Dylan Lambrecht (64’3) and Ryan Henry (62’5) placing second and fifth in the men’s side and Sasha Garnett (55’4.75) claiming 10th on the women’s side.
Penn State’s last individual track and field championship came from Cheickna Traore, who claimed gold in the 200-meter dash at the 2024 outdoor meet.
The first day of the meet will be aired on ESPN beginning at 8 p.m. eastern time, while the three ensuing days of competition will appear on ESPN 2, also all at 8 p.m.
