Coleman Shatters 60m Record as Terps Triumph in Four Events at Nittany Lion Challenge

STATE COLLEGE, PA – Armanie Coleman enhanced her school record collection by securing the 60-meter championship, while the Terps triumphed in four events overall as Maryland returned to competition on Saturday at the Penn State Nittany Lion Challenge.

“This meet served as a strong motivator to kick off the new year,” remarked head coach Andrew Valmon. “The team’s spirit was robust and was evident through every performance.”

 

Coleman was responsible for two victories on the day, winning the 60 meters and the 200 meters. She initiated her day by establishing a new personal-best program record in the 60 meters with a time of 7.43 seconds. She followed up with a victory in the 200 meters (24.49 seconds) – an event in which she set the school record during the opening meet of the season at Navy back in December.

 

Kami Joi Hickson won the 600 meters with a personal-best time (1:32.37), marking the third-fastest time in program history. She was succeeded by Emma Pegg, who claimed second place with the fourth-fastest time (1:32.54) in program history, also achieving a personal best.

 

In her inaugural meet for the Terps, Maya Valmon took fourth place in the 300 meters (38.86 seconds), with Samantha Payne finishing sixth (39.09 seconds). Their times ranked as the fifth and sixth fastest in program history, respectively.

 

Maryland swept the podium in the 800 meters, led by Katerina Talanova, who set a new personal record by over five seconds. She registered a time of 2 minutes, 14.21 seconds for the victory. Following her was Lucy Scothern (2:15.40), whose time also marked a personal best by four seconds. Reese Delp completed the trifecta, hitting her own PR in 2 minutes, 15.79 seconds.

 

In the mile, Katie Turk secured third place with a personal-best of 4 minutes, 54.03 seconds.

Chioma Njoku earned a second-place finish in the weight throw. She was narrowly surpassed by Pittsburgh’s Norrah Lemongo, who threw 67 feet on her final attempt, while Njoku reached 66 feet, 5.00 inches.

 

The quartet of Ka’nai Bey, Valmon, Hickson, and Payne concluded the day with a second-place finish in the 4×400 relay, clocking a time of 3 minutes, 40.05 seconds, which is the seventh-fastest in program history.

 

Maryland will resume competition on Friday and Saturday, January 24-25, at the Columbia Challenge at The Armory in New York.