SHIPPENSBURG, Pa.-- After a successful spring for the Maroon & Gold, the Kutztown University track & field team is ready to compete at the 2024 Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Outdoor Track & Field Championships, hosted at Shippensburg University this weekend. Events will kick off on Friday, May 3 at 11 a.m. and run till Sunday, May 5.

Tickets for Saturday and Sunday can be PURCHASED HERE via Hudl Tickets. Tickets must be purchased online as it is a cashless event. All sales are final. Admission is free on Friday, while Adult Day Passes (Sat/Sun) are $10, Student K-12 Day Pass (Sat/Sun) are $5, and admission is free for students from member institutions with valid I.D. 

Not only are conference championships on the line, but possible qualifications for the NCAA Outdoor Championships. They will take place at Welch Stadium in Emporia, Kan. from May 23-25.

Men's Team
22 Golden Bears earned the right to represent KU at Seth Grove Stadium this weekend. The athletes and their respective events can be found below:

Michael Fellin (Sheppton, Pa./Marian Catholic) (100m, 200m, 4x100m)
Daron Haggans (Harrisburg, Pa./Central Dauphin) (100m, 200m, 4x100m)
James Washburn (Shoreham, N.Y./Shoreham-Wading River) (400m. 400m Hurdles, 4x100m)
Steele Wrigley (Coatesville, Pa./Octorara) (400m, 4x100m)
Adam Brocato (Reisterstown, Md./Calvert Hall) (1500m, 5000m)
Port Habalar (Williamsport, Pa./South Williamsport) (1500m)
Jack Hollar (East Stroudsburg, Pa./Pocono Mountain East) (10000m)
Robby Lloyd (Newtown, Pa./Council Rock North) (10000m)
Jacob Huber (Bethlehem, Pa./Saucon Valley) (10000m)
Kayden Platania (Buena, N.J./Buena Regional) (10000m)
Kyle Love (Lansdowne, Pa./Bonner-Prendergast) (110m Hurdles, 400m Hurdles)
Dekai Averett (Douglassville, Pa./Souderton) (110m Hurdles)
Cody Schabener (Reading, Pa./Exeter Township) (3000m Steeplechase)
TJ White (Reading, Pa./Muhlenberg) (High Jump)
Jordon Floyd (Westampton, N.J./Rancocas Valley Regional) (High Jump, Long Jump)
Joe Jardine (Mohrsville, Pa./Schuylkill Valley) (Pole Vault, Long Jump)
Nate Schaeffer (Mohrsville, Pa./Schuylkill Valley) (Pole Vault)
Anthony DeFusco (Douglassville, Pa./Daniel Boone) (Long Jump, Triple Jump)
Kyree Butler (Ambler, Pa./Upper Dublin) (Shot Put)
Jacob Solonoski (Weatherly, Pa./Weatherly) (Hammer)
Kevin Givone (Nazareth, Pa./Nazareth) (Javelin)
Anthony Helmstetter (Middlesex, N.J./Middlesex) (Javelin)

The reigning conference champion, All-American, and KU record holder in the indoor pole vault Joe Jardine (Mohrsville, Pa./Schuylkill Valley) will look to carry over that success to the outdoor championships. The Schuylkill Valley product has the best mark in the PSAC this season of 5.15m (16'10.75"), set at the Dr. Jack M. Toms Alumni Invitational back in March. That mark sits as the third-best in program history and ninth-best in the nation entering the weekend. Jardine will face stiff competition from the Slippery Rock duo of Andrew Layton and Dan Hyatt as he looks to close out his KU career with an outdoor championship and a ticket to Kansas. 

Kevin Givone (Nazareth, Pa./Nazareth) burst onto the scene after sitting out the indoor season and will look to earn his first conference crown in the javelin. The Nazareth native has the second-best mark in the PSAC this season of 62.35m (204'7"), set at the Millersville Metrics in early April. He is the only Golden Bear other than Jardine to set an NCAA provisional mark this season, with his throw currently being the 21st-best in the nation this season. Givone will have to beat out Lock Haven freshman Peter Bellomo for the PSAC title and improve upon his previous best toss to possibly earn a trip to the NCAA Championships.

The last top-three mark in the conference this season comes for TJ White (Reading, Pa./Muhlenberg). The junior from Reading cleared the bar at 2.00m (6'6.75") in the high jump at the Dr. Jack M. Toms Alumni Invitational, which has stood as the third-best jump in the PSAC. White will be looking for his first conference title and second-career PSAC medal after finishing second with a personal-best 2.02m (6'7.5") back in 2022. 

The 4x100m relay team of Michael Fellin (Sheppton, Pa./Marian Catholic), Daron Haggans (Harrisburg, Pa./Central Dauphin), James Washburn (Shoreham, N.Y./Shoreham-Wading River), and Steele Wrigley (Coatesville, Pa./Octorara) had a spectacular showing at the Penn Relays last week, running a 41.62, the fourth-fastest in the PSAC this season and third fastest in KU history. Anthony DeFusco (Douglassville, Pa./Daniel Boone) will be competing in the long and triple jump events this weekend, coming in with a top-five PSAC mark in both events. Kyle Love (Lansdowne, Pa./Bonner-Prendergast) and Jacob Solonoski (Weatherly, Pa./Weatherly) are two other Golden Bears to watch out for, both with top-five PSAC marks in the 400m hurdles and hammer throw respectively. 

Women's Team 
14 athletes from the women's squad will be representing KU at Shippensburg this weekend. Their names and respective events can be found below:

Kiana Young (East Stroudsburg, Pa./Stroudsburg) (100m, 200m, 4x100)
Brook Smith (Lancaster, Pa./Hempfield) (100m, 200m)
Beth Schearer (Springfield, Pa./Springfield) (200m, 4x100)
Raechel Bonner (Harrisburg, Pa./Central Dauphin) (200m, 400m, 4x100)
Deandra Young (East Stroudsburg, Pa./Stroudsburg) (800m)
Sophia Knerr (Columbia, N.J./North Warren Regional) (5000m, 3000m Steeplechase)
Maura Lenhart (Center Valley, Pa./Southern Lehigh) (5000m, 10000m)
Jaelyn D'Amelio (Manahawkin, N.J./Southern Regional) (10000m)
Taniyah Lawler (Chester, Pa./Chester) (400m Hurdles, 4x100)
Kacie Sienko (Langhorne, Pa./Neshaminy) (High Jump, Long Jump)
Mia Grassia (Bay Shore, N.Y./Bay Shore) (High Jump)
Myah Davies (New Market, Md./Linganore) (Pole Vault)
Taylor Funk (Denver, Pa./Cocalico) (Pole Vault)
Delaney Beard (Sinking Spring, Pa./Governor Mifflin) (Long Jump,Triple Jump)

Delaney Beard (Sinking Spring, Pa./Governor Mifflin) comes into the weekend looking for her first conference crown in Maroon & Gold after transferring from Clarion before the indoor season. The Governor Mifflin product set the second-best mark in the conference of 11.63m (38'2") in the triple jump at the Bison Outdoor Classic on April 12th. She will face stiff competition from Shippensburg's Sasha Lee and Mansfield's Taylor Abigail for that top spot.

Pole vaulter Myah Davies (New Market, Md./Linganore) also comes to Shippensburg with a serious shot to earn her first PSAC title after finishing second and third in previous seasons. The New Market, Md. native cleared the bar at 3.60m (11'9.75") at the Millersville Metrics in early April, which is the third-best jump in the conference this season. 

On the track, Sophia Knerr (Columbia, N.J./North Warren Regional) has the potential for her first conference title in the 3000m steeplechase. The junior ran an 11:27.65 at the Bison Outdoor Classic on April 12, which is the second-best in the conference this season. The 4x400 relay team of Kiana Young (East Stroudsburg, Pa./Stroudsburg), Taniyah Lawler (Chester, Pa./Chester), Beth Schearer (Springfield, Pa./Springfield), and Raechel Bonner (Harrisburg, Pa./Central Dauphin) has also had a spectacular season and will look to carry it over into conferences. That foursome comes in with the third-best time in the PSAC this season of 3:55.99. 

All four members of the 4x400 squad will also have the opportunity to battle for titles in individual events. Lawler and Young both have top five times in the 400m hurdles and 100m respectively. Bonner always shows up during conference championships, having eight PSAC medals across the indoor and outdoor seasons over the course of her career. She has won the 400m title at both the outdoor (2021) and indoor championships (2023).