Rivers eclipses 2017 standard by more than two seconds, giving Nittany Lions both men’s and women’s collegiate records in the event

By Erik Boal, DyeStat Editor

Penn State junior Danae Rivers set the collegiate indoor record Saturday in the women’s 1,000 meters, winning at the Nittany Lion Challenge in 2 minutes, 38.58 seconds at the Multi-Sport Facility and Horace Ashenfelter III Indoor Track.

Rivers, running the event for the first time in college after boasting a high school best of 2:49.68 in 2015, eclipsed the mark of 2:40.79 set in 2017 by Oklahoma State’s Kaela Edwards.

Rivers’ effort elevated her to the No. 14 all-time American indoor performer and placed her just inside the top 100 in the world. Rivers, who ranks second in the world this year, is the sixth U.S. female to run under 2:39 in the past five seasons.

Penn State now boasts both collegiate records in the 1,000, with Brannon Kidder running 2:18.26 in 2016 at the same meet to set the men’s standard.