UNIVERSITY PARK — A group of runners, many of whom are Penn State alumni, finished off a world record Friday afternoon, completing a 1,000-mile relay from Minneapolis in under 100 hours as they crossed the finish line at the Penn State track.

The 10 runners, which also included a pair of men from Lock Haven, ran the race in memory of former State College and Penn State pole vaulter Kevin Dare, completing the effort in 95 hours, 3 minutes and 1 second.

The relay was run in conjunction with Life... Back on Track, a non-profit organization — run by the Kevin Dare Foundation — that raises scholarship money to help high school students, who have been faced with hardships in their lives, pursue their college dreams. Dare died in 2002 in a pole vaulting accident in Minneapolis while competing at the Big Ten Championships.

The relay was begun symbolically at the University of Minesota Field House before hitting the streets all the way to State College. The effort was spearheaded by former Nittany Lion Ryan Foster.

“We have to thank the most important person, the person who was really the genesis of this. When you think of our leader you think of Ryan Foster,” said Ed Dare, Kevin’s father. “If you could have been with us, this was the most incredible five days we have ever experienced and these are the most incredible 10 men you’d ever want to meet.”

Foster was joined by former Nittany Lion teammates Kyle Dawson, Owen Dawson, Brian Fuller, Teddy Quinn, Dennis Pollow and Vince McNally, along with Lock Haven All-Americans Ryan Blood and Nick Hilton and Notre Dame graduate Luke Watson, who is pursuing his PhD at Penn State.

“Personally, I want to thank everyone for coming. It was as good a welcome as we could have imagined,” Foster said. “This is something incredible that I really didn’t think I’d do in my time, but it comes down to the core of it, and it was really all about Kevin.”

Men’s basketball

Nittany Lions open Big Ten with Badgers

UNIVERSITY PARK — Penn State will open its 21st season of Big Ten play with a road game at Wisconsin on Jan. 3, according to a schedule revealed by the conference.

The Nittany Lions are beginning their 18-game conference schedule on the road for a fourth straight season. Pennn State plays its first home Big Ten game against Indiana on Jan. 7. The Hoosiers are expected to begin the season in the top 10.

Northwestern (Jan. 10), Michigan State (Jan. 16), Nebraksa (Jan. 19), Ohio State (Jan. 26), Purdue (Feb. 5), Iowa (Feb. 14), Michigan (Feb. 27) and Wisconsin (March 10) also visit the Bryce Jordan Center this season.

Men’s soccer

Lions still unbeaten

UNIVERSTY PARK — Minh Vu’s second-half goal was the difference as Penn State stayed unbeaten on the season with a 1-0 win over Duquesne on Friday.

Vu scored on a header in the 51st minute off John Gallagher’s corner kick for the winner.

Emmanuel Martin and Andrew Wolverton combined for one save for the shutout as Penn State (3-0) outshot the Dukes 11-5.

The Nittany Lions travel to No. 21 Georgetown on Sunday.

Women’s soccer

Nairn wins it for PSU

MORGANTOWN, W. Va. — Christine Nairnnetted the game-winning goal in the second overtime as Penn State knocked off West Virginia 2-1 Friday night.

Nairn hit the winner on a free kick after an obstruction call on the Mountaineers at 108:38 to end the match.

Tani Costa posted the other goal for the Nittany Lions (4-1) with an assist from Kori Chapic.

Kate Schwindel had the goal for the Mountaineers.

Erin McNulty made five saves for Penn State, which meets Pittsburgh on Sunday.

Field hockey

UConn drops PSU

STORRS, Conn. — Penn State suffered its first loss in its first road game of the season, falling 2-1 Friday evening to No. 6 Connecticut.

The No. 9 Nittany Lions had taken a lead into halftime on a Kelsey Amy goal from Whitney Reddig on a penalty corner, but the Huskies found the net twice in the second half to rally.

Marie Elena Bolles scored both goals six minutes apart to grab the win.

Ayla Halus made four saves in the loss for Penn State (2-1), which faces Lafayette on Sunday.

Women’s basketball

Lady Lions host charity event

UNIVERSITY PARK— The fifth annual Coquese’s Drive for the Women’s Resource Center, hosted by Lady Lion head coach Coquese Washington, announced it raised $23,900 at the Penn State Blue Course on Friday.