Penn State Nittany Lions Track & Field: Making Major Waves in College Athletics

The Penn State Nittany Lions Track & Field team is running the show—literally. With a combination of veteran leadership, breakout freshmen, and strategic additions through the transfer portal, Penn State has solidified its place among the elite programs in NCAA Division I athletics. The 2025 season saw the Nittany Lions shatter school records, secure Big Ten titles, and earn national accolades, proving that their quiet climb to the top tiers of college track and field is anything but subtle. Under the guidance of head coach John Gondak, Penn State is making major waves, and the nation is taking notice.

A Record-Breaking 2025 Season

The 2025 season marked a turning point for Penn State’s track and field program, with the team delivering standout performances across sprints, distance, relays, and field events. At the NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships in Eugene, Oregon (June 11-13, 2025), eight Nittany Lions competed on the national stage, showcasing the program’s depth and talent. The men’s 4x400m relay team, featuring Handal Roban, James Onwuka, Max DeAngelo, and Jake Palermo, stole the show, clocking a program-record 3:03.39 to finish fifth overall and earn First-Team All-American honors. Allon Clay, in his first season with Penn State after transferring from Texas A&M, won the Big Ten title in the 800m and ran a personal-best 1:47.17 at the NCAA Championships, finishing ninth overall.

The team’s success began early in the season. At the Nittany Lion Challenge on January 18, 2025, freshman sprinter Ajani Dwyer made an immediate impact, running a 6.55 in the 60m dash—the second-fastest time in school history, trailing only former national champion Cheickna Traore. Traore, who won the 200m NCAA title in 2024 before turning professional, left big shoes to fill, but the sprint group proved ready for the challenge. The addition of Canadian Olympian Marie Eloise, with personal bests of 7.30 in the 60m, 11.38 in the 100m, and 23.40 in the 200m, further bolstered the squad, signaling Penn State’s ambition to dominate short sprints.

At the Big Ten Outdoor Championships at Hayward Field (May 18, 2025), Penn State showcased its versatility. In addition to Clay’s 800m title, the men’s 4x400m relay team of Austin Gallant, James Onwuka, and Korbin Martino defended their 2024 Big Ten championship, solidifying their status as one of the nation’s top relay units. On the women’s side, graduate student Zoey Goldstein, a DMR All-American with top-10 program marks in the 200m and 400m, led a sprint group that welcomed impactful transfers like Meghan Quinn (Bucknell) and Abasiono Akpan (Auburn), a two-time NCAA East First Round qualifier in the 400m hurdles.


Depth Across Events

Penn State’s success in 2025 wasn’t limited to sprints and relays. The team’s field athletes and distance runners also made significant contributions. At the NCAA East First Round in Jacksonville, Florida (May 28-31, 2025), the Nittany Lions sent a strong contingent to compete for NCAA Championship berths, with athletes like Roban and Clay advancing in the 800m. The team’s preparation was evident throughout the season, with strategic meet appearances at events like the Clemson Tiger Paw Invite, Boston’s David Hemery Valentine Invitational, and the Ashland Alumni Open, where athletes posted qualifying marks and personal bests.

The women’s team, in particular, showed remarkable depth. Senior Lauren Princz and sophomores Kylie Jacoutot and Ryleigh Hearn returned to bolster the sprints, while freshmen and transfers added firepower. Akpan’s experience in the 400m hurdles and Quinn’s record-breaking pedigree from Bucknell are expected to elevate Penn State’s performance in 2026. The team’s ability to compete across multiple events—from the 60m dash to the 4x400m relay to field events—has made them a formidable opponent in the Big Ten and beyond.

Academic and Athletic Excellence

Penn State’s track and field athletes are not only excelling on the track but also in the classroom. In June 2025, the program led all Penn State spring sports with 31 Academic All-Big Ten honorees, contributing to the university’s record-tying 93% NCAA Graduation Success Rate (GSR). This marked the eighth consecutive year of record or record-tying academic performance for Nittany Lion student-athletes, with track and field tying men’s lacrosse for the most hon activations among men’s programs. The team’s commitment to balancing academics and athletics underscores the program’s holistic approach to developing student-athletes.

A Program on the Rise

Under Coach Gondak’s leadership, Penn State has built a program that combines veteran talent with a pipeline of elite recruits and transfers. The 2025 roster featured athletes from diverse backgrounds, including Sydney, Australia (via Sydney University and New Mexico), St. Vincent and the Grenadines (via Jamaica College), and Utica, New York (via Iowa). The addition of graduate student Damoy Allen, a former NCAA qualifier in the 4x100m relay at Iowa, further strengthened the men’s sprint group.

The team’s facilities at the Multi-Sport Facility & Horace Ashenfelter III Indoor Track and Nittany Lion Outdoor Track provided a strong foundation for training, while events like the Nittany Lion Challenge and Senior Day celebrations fostered a sense of community and pride. Social media buzz on X highlighted the program’s momentum, with posts celebrating Traore’s 2024 national championship and Eloise’s signing as evidence of Penn State’s growing reputation.

Be the first to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.


*