The Youngstown State men's and women's track and field teams posted seven top-five finishes on their first days of competition at the YSU National Mid-Major Invitational and Penn State National Open.
Penn State National Open
Jaliyah Elliott finished as the runner-up in the 60m dash after running a season-best time of 7.34 seconds. Freshamn Jahniya Bowers came in 7th after clocking a time of 7.52 seconds. Suerethia Henderson also competed in the 60m advancing to the semi-finals where she ran a time of 7.63 seconds.
Collin Harden finished fourth in the 60m hurdles after finishing in 7.96 seconds. Harden posted his fastest time of the day in the semi-finals after clocking a time of 7.91 seconds.
Dakari Carter advanced the furthest for the Penguins in the 60m dash after running in the semi-finals where he clocked a time of 6.89 seconds. Christian Ford and Jamynk Jackson also competed in the 60m dash clocking times of 6.91 seconds and 6.95 seconds respectively.
YSU National Mid-Major Invitational
Sammy Dyson finished second in the weight throw after recording a personal-best mark of 16.54m. Dyson's mark is the 10th furthest in school history. Alivia Bentley was 8th in the weight throw with a mark of 14.54m.
Tyler Polman finished as the runner-up in the 5000m with a personal-best time of 15:00.58 and Morgan Cole took third on the women's side after running the ninth fastest time in school history at 17:46.71.
Ben Gutzky had a strong performance in the weight throw finishing fourth with a mark of 17.90m. Zach Gehm was the next highest finisher for the Penguins coming in 7th. Gehm improved his personal-best mark in the event after throwing the weight 17.33m on his third attempt.
Erin Bogard earned a fifth place finish in the seeded pole vault after clearing the bar at 3.73m on her second attempt. Katlyn Griffie earned a 7th place finish after clearing the bar at a personal-best height of 3.58m.
In the unseeded section of the pole vault, Rachel Hart was fourth after clearing the bar at 3.15m.
The men's distance medley relay team finished second overall after clocking a time of 10:21.31, which the ninth fastest time in school history. The women's DMR team finished as the runner-up after running the seventh fast time in program history at 12:43.12
The Penguins have an early start to Day 2 of the YSU National Mid-Major Invitational which begins at 8:30 a.m. with the heptathlon. Nicole Squatrito will kick things off at 11:55 a.m. from the Penn State National Open with the 1 mile run.
