Sophomore sprinter Jahniya Bowers, sophomore distance runner Chase Easterling and junior pole vaulter Wyatt Lefker, among others, highlighted the YSU Collegiate Invitational at the Watson and Tressel Training Site (WATTS) Friday.
Jahniya Bowers, at the time of the mark, clocked the nation's fastest 60m dash of the 2021 indoor track and field season (7.57). The mark also ties the eighth-fastest indoor 60m time in Youngstown State history.
Akron-transfer and first-year Penguin, Chase Easterling, took home the top-time in the 3000m run, shattering his previous personal-record of 8:53.07 by more than 20 seconds and etching his place in program history as his 3000m time was eighth-fastest ever run by a Penguin.
Keeping the record books open, junior Wyatt Lefker cleared 4.93m in the pole vault, setting a new indoor record and personal-best.
YSU went on to earn 23 top-five finishes throughout Friday's action from the WATTS, taking the outright title in seven events (men's pole vault, men's shot put, men's long jump, men's mile run, men's 3000m run, women's 800m run, women's 60m dash).
Women:
The Penguins began the Invite placing two runners in the top-five in the 60m dash, with sophomore Jahniya Bowers taking the victory. Behind Bowers, sophomore Kyndia Matlock placed third in the final heat, running a 7.74.
Freshman Madison Murry highlighted the YSU effort in the 60m hurdles, finishing second with a time of 9.21, falling only to Indiana Tech's Mary Leighton (9.13). Freshman Teddi Kinsey rounded out the top-finishers, placing fourth (9.37).
In the women's distance bubble, junior Lauren Dolak led the charge with her 2:20.55 final mark in the 800m run, giving the Penguins their second first-place finish of the day.
Freshman Rachel Jeffries took second in the high jump in her YSU debut, clearing the bar at 1.60m on her fourth attempt.
Junior Olivia Jones notched two top-five finishes for YSU, placing fourth in the long jump clearing a 5.40m bar and placing fifth in the shot put with a throw of 11.78m.
Men:
Multi-sport athlete Allen Stritzinger set the pace for the 'Guins in the morning session, taking third in the 60m hurdles after clocking a time of 8.25 in his debut as a Penguin. Junior Jamynk Jackson followed suit and earned YSU another top-five finish, placing fourth in the 60m dash (7.02).
In the first event of the afternoon session for the YSU, senior Sean Peterson picked up where he left off during the 2020 indoor season. In his sole appearance of the day, Sean secured the victory in the Mile run with a time of 4:14.72.
Peterson's victory lit a fuse within the Penguins as sophomore Chase Easterling (8:29.45) and freshman Hunter Christopher (8:32.94) swept the top spots in the 3000m meter run. Friday's action in the WATTS acted as both runners' YSU debut.
A pair of Penguins, sophomore Dominic Perry and freshman Brock Grundy, earned top-five spots in the shot put as Perry finished first and Grundy was fourth. Perry recorded a mark of 17.60m and Grundy's best throw was 15.54m.
Senior Daiquain Watson added to the Penguins' success late in day, earning the top mark of the invitational in the men's long jump (7.09m) on his fourth attempt.
Other Notable Finishes:
Junior Terron Taylor cleared 1.86m high jump bar, placed third.
Sophomore Erin Bogard cleared 3.72m pole vault bar, finished third.
Freshman Lauren Sheehan recorded 12.28m shot put, finished third.
Freshman Chase Harbaugh clocked 1:57.85 800m run, finished third.
Junior Olivia Jones recorded 5.40m long jump, finished fourth.
Junior Sammy Dyson recorded 12.25m shot put, finished fourth.
Up Next:
The Penguins return to action Jan. 29-30 as they prepare to host the YSU Mid-Major Invitational at the WATTS.
