Lukehart Garners Bronze Medal In Javelin; Duncan, Laffan Advance To Finals

The Penn State Behrend women’s track & field team had eight athletes notch career best times/marks on the first day of the State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) Conference Outdoor Championships on Friday, hosted by Cortland.

May 2, 2025

CORTLAND, N.Y. – The Penn State Behrend women's track & field team had eight athletes notch career best times/marks on the first day of the State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) Conference Outdoor Championships on Friday, hosted by Cortland.

Key Moments:

* In the javelin throw, freshmen Braylee Lukehart (Reynoldsville, PA/DuBois Area) and Caroline Lewis (Erie, PA/McDowell) both tossed personal bests of 106-1 and 105-3 for third and fifth place

* This marks the first collegiate medal for Lukehart

* Jaade Duncan (Turner Falls, MA/Turner Falls) ran a regional qualifying time and personal record time of 12.44 for sixth in the 100m prelims to advance to tomorrow's finals

* Fellow freshman Chloe Yazembiak (West Springfield, PA/Northwestern) also registered a personal best time in the 100m prelims (13.03)

* Ivy Laffan (Waterford, PA/Fort LeBoeuf) crossed the finish line in 1:10.76 for third in the 400m hurdles prelims to qualify for finals

* Seniors Noelani Takei (Fremont, CA/Irvington) tied her season best in the pole vault with a mark of 10-0, while Grace Jones (Union City, PA/Union City) placed eighth (8-0 ½)

* Macie Horvath (Hermitage, PA/Hermitage) tallied a personal record time of 2:36.15 in the 800m prelims for 14th place

* In the 400m prelims, freshmen Ella McGowan (Erie, PA/Waterford) (1:04.09), Caroline McDevitt (1:04.43), and Lynzey Reinsel (North East, PA/North East) (1:07.34) all finished 13th, 14th, and 18th with personal best times

* Behrend heptathlon participant senior Rachel Skoczlas (Bridgeville, PA/Canon-McMillan) sits in seventh (1117) after day one of competition

* Skoczlas finished seventh in the 100m hurdles (19.97/PR), high jump (4-5), and shot put (23-10 ¼ )

* As a team, the Lions are tied for second out eight teams with a score of 16

* The top-3 finishers in each event earn a spot on the SUNYAC All-Conference Team

* The m/w 200m prelims, m/w 10k, women's heptathlon 200m, women's hammer throw, and men's javelin were all postponed due to weather and will be moved to Saturday's event schedule

Up Next:

* Day two of conference championships begins tomorrow at 10 a.m.