University Park, Pa. - The Youngstown State men's and women's track and field team picked up five event victories as the Penguins opened the 2023 calendar year at the Penn State Nittany Lion Challenge on Saturday.

At the PSU Multisport Facility and the Horace Ashenfelter III Indoor Track, Hunter Christopher won the 3,000m with school-record performance, Jahniya Bowers won the 60m and 200m dash, Tye Hunt won the long jump and Madison Murry won the 60m hurdles to highlight a strong effort by the Guins.

In the final men's race of the day, Christopher used an impressive final 200m to pull out a win and set the school record with a time of 8:04.81. Christopher claimed the event win by a half second over Penn State's Brandon Hontz. The previous school record was 8:10.45 set by Austin McLean on Feb. 14, 2015. 

For the second consecutive year, Bowers won the 60m dash at the meet. On Saturday, she claimed a title with a time of 7.45 seconds finishing in front of Pitt's Alexsandra Stoilova. Later in the day she clocked a time of 24.06 seconds to earn a first-place finish by .23 seconds in front of Pitt's Imani Clark.

Hunt claimed the Penguins' first win of the day as YSU dominated in the long jump. Hunt had a winning mark of 7.27m to claim the title by .06 meters. Samuel Challis was fourth with a leap of 6.81m while Luke Laubacher was fifth with a 6.80m effort.

Murry took the crown in the 60m hurdles with a time of 8.67 seconds. 

Women's Top Finishes

• In the shot put, Lauren Sheehan was fifth with a throw of 13.78m while Molly Radcliffe was sixth with a toss of 13.51m.
• In the long jump, Esther Solarin placed fourth with a leap of 5.47m.
• In the triple jump, Nia Williams-Mathews was third with a best effort of 11.67m.
• In the 800m run, Malena Cybek placed third with a time of 2:16.99.
• In the 3,000m run, Morgan Cole finished third with a time of 9:46.81.

Men's Top Finishes

• In the pole vault, Blake Sifferlin was second clearing a personal-best height of 4.90m.
• In the high jump, Lonnie Harper finished second at Terron Taylor was third as both cleared 2.03m.
• In the 60m hurdles, Laubacher picked up a second-place finish with a time of 8.22 seconds.
• In the 3,000m, Ryan Meadows claimed a fifth-place finish with a time of 8:14.63.

YSU returns to action on Friday when it plays host to the YSU Collegiate Invitational presented by Southwoods Health at the WATTS.

For complete coverage of Youngstown State Track and Field throughout the 2022-23 season, follow @YSUTrackFieldXC on Twitter and Instagram.