Maya Valmon Sets Maryland 300-Meter Program Record at Nittany Lion Challenge

Maryland opened its indoor track season at the Nittany Lion Challenge in University Park, Pa., where graduate student Maya Valmon ran a program-record 37.29 seconds to win the 300-meter dash by nearly two seconds. The performance shattered the previous program standard and provided a clear early-season statement for the Terps.

Valmon, who is the daughter of Maryland head coach Andrew Valmon, paced the field convincingly in the event that served as the indoor season opener for the team. Her mark is the seventh school record she has held either outright or as part of a relay, underscoring a pattern of sustained impact since joining the program. The victory came on Jan. 19 and immediately positioned Maryland athletes among contenders to watch as the Big Ten indoor season develops.

For Prince George’s County residents, the result matters beyond a single time. College Park is home to the University of Maryland, and strong individual performances from Terps athletes tend to raise the program’s profile locally - boosting game-day attendance, enhancing community engagement with campus athletics, and serving as inspiration for youth track clubs and high school programs across the county. A graduate student setting a program record also highlights the depth and experience within the roster, which can influence recruiting narratives and local support for the program’s facilities and youth outreach efforts.

Institutionally, the record is notable in the context of coach Andrew Valmon’s tenure. Program records serve as measurable indicators of progress for a team and factor into administrative evaluations, fundraising conversations, and community expectations. Maryland’s track program now carries added momentum as it prepares for its next meet, the Dr. Sander Scorcher Invitational in New York City, where athletes will have another opportunity to translate early-season form into conference positioning.

The weekend also saw Maryland’s men’s basketball squad notch a Big Ten win over Penn State, rounding out a competitive opening stretch for Terps sports. For local supporters, the early successes across Maryland athletics provide multiple points of engagement this winter and a reminder that College Park remains a regional hub for collegiate competition.

Valmon’s record sets the tone for the indoor calendar and gives Prince George’s County track fans a measurable reason to follow the team into February. Attention now shifts to the Scorcher Invitational and the rest of the indoor schedule, where the Terps will look to convert strong individual results into team momentum.