Column | Awarding Penn State track and field superlatives

Penn State had a strong indoor season filled with several school records and high-achieving performances.

The postseason concluded with a standout performance from graduate student Olivier Desmeules, who won the Big Ten championship in the men’s 600-meter and advanced to the final of the NCAA Championships in the men’s 800-meter.

These athletes were the cornerstones of the program this season.

Men’s athlete of the year – Olivier Desmeules

Desmeules advanced his track career in his final season with the blue and white, succeeding at the Big Ten and NCAA Championships.

At the Penn State National Open, the Quebec native ran a Canadian record 1:15.59 in the men’s 600m. Weeks later, he won the Big Ten championship in the 600m, and at the NCAA Championships, he finished eighth in the 800m final en route to First Team All-American honors.

Women’s athlete of the year – Hayley Kitching

Junior Hayley Kitching enjoyed another dominant season in the women’s 800m, breaking the school record and medaling at the Big Ten Championships.

At the Penn State National Open, Kitching broke her own school record, running a 2:01.14. At the Big Ten Championships, she won silver for the second straight year.

Men’s track athlete of the year – Ajani Dwyer

Freshman Ajani Dwyer burst onto the scene this year as a dominant 60-meter and 200-meter sprinter.

Dwyer finished his first collegiate 60m race in 6.55 – 0.01 seconds off the Penn State record. At the U.S. Track and Field Indoor Championship, Dwyer won the prelims with a record-tying 6.54, beating out several Olympic athletes.

Women’s track athlete of the year – Florence Caron

While Florence Caron didn’t medal at the Big Ten Championships, she was one of three Penn State women to qualify for the NCAA Championships.

At the David Hemery Valentine Invitational, Caron broke the Penn State record in the 5000-meter, running a 15:25.83.

Men’s field athlete of the year – Ryan Henry

In his first season at Penn State, junior Ryan Henry progressed from his time at Youngstown State, tallying a personal-best shot put throw of 18.89 meters.

At the Nittany Lion Challenge, Henry tallied a 19-meter throw, furthering his standout shot put performance. Henry’s effort marked the 10th-best throw in NCAA history.

Women’s field athlete of the year – Maddie Pitts

Like Caron and Kitching, junior pentathlete Maddie Pitts also qualified for the NCAA Championships.

At the championships, Pitts tied her personal-best pentathlon performance and third-best in school history, as she earned ninth place with 4,229 points.

Men’s freshman of the year – Jake Palermo

Rochester, New York, native Jake Palermo had a quiet start to the season but quickly became a frontrunner in the men’s 400-meter.

At the Penn State Tune-Up, Palermo broke the school record with a 45.65 performance. At the Big Ten Championships, the freshman ran the fastest time but was disqualified for stepping into another lane.

Women’s freshman of the year – Tayissa Buchanan

Australian Tayissa Buchanan made a name for herself at the Big Ten Championships en route to earning Big Ten All-Freshman Team honors.

In the preliminary round, Buchanan earned an appearance in the final with a 1:31.55 and finished seventh in the final, running a 1:32.90.

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