Way Back Wednesday

"It was Satyr Hill, a 330-foot rise in a half-mile that came 18 miles into the race, that proved to be many a runner's Achilles' heel."

Don't forget to get your votes in for the first semi-final in the 2017 Performance of the Year poll on the left sidebar of the full website.  The Interns tell me they are disappointed with the number of votes so far!  Vote for three to make the Finals in 2 weeks.  2nd Semi-Final coming during the Penn State Bowl game.

My wife was rummaging around in my old homestead and found this pic from yesteryear.  It was fairly easy to figure out what is was...

Some dorky aspects:

• Tube socks
• Knit cap
• Cotton t-shirt (York Road Runners Club)
• Warm-up top!
• Pocono Mountain Basketball Camp triple knit shorts
• Nike Waffles  bought from Greg Fredericks' Athletic Attic store.
• Actually smiling a little!

It is the 1976 Maryland Marathon, run from the old Memorial Stadium to Loch Raven and back. That means a huge hill at the 18 or 19 mile mark, Satyr Hill.  This whim of mine to run one of the most difficult marathon courses around without really training for it was only one of the stupid things I did before my Penn State experience!

                    THE FOURTH ANNUAL MARYLAND MARATHON
                               26.2 MILE RUN
              Baltimore, Md     December 5, 1976  10:30 A.M.
Place Name                Ag S Time    Pace 
===== =================== == = ======= =====
    1 William Rogers      28 M 2:14:22  5:08
    2 Tom Fleming         25 M 2:16:01  5:12
    3 Ron Hill            38 M 2:20:23  5:22
    4 Barry Brown         32 M 2:21:07  5:24
 220 David Beakwill 17 M 2:58:45 6:50

Mean Temperature     30 °F  

And they didn't even spell my name right!

Our First Semi-Final Poll On 2017 Performance Of The Year

2017 was a phenomenal year for the Penn State Track and Field Alumni Universe. there were literally hundreds of great things happening.  This triggered an unprecedented number of nominations to our Performance of the Year Awards.  I have had to combine numerous entries to narrow the field down, there were so many!

Vote for your top three in this semi-final poll on the left sidebar of the full web site! 

Remember, we want to hear from you at any time on submissions for this annual award.  There is a place on the right sidebar of the full web site (not on mobile devices!) to submit anything you find to be worthy at any time. 

Previous winners of the Award:

• 2016 - Joe Kovacs - Silver Medal Olympic Shot Put
• 2015 -  Joe Kovacs - IAFF World Champion Shot Put
• 2014 - Brannon Kidder - School Record 1500M  (3:38.3)
• 2013 - Penn Relays DMR Championship of America (Brannon Kidder, Brandon Bennett-Green, Casimir Loxsom, Robby Creese)
• 2012 - Bridget Franek - Finals of Olympic Steeplechase

Semi-Final 1 Nominations for 2017 Performance of the Year: (Vote for your top three! on the left sidebar)

• Andrew Sell transitions from the Club Team to #3 runner on the XC team at the Big Ten Championships.
• Darrell Hill wins IAFF Diamond League Shot Put Championships.
• Tori Gerlach 3rd at NCAA Steeplechase.
• John Gondak - Mens Big Ten Outdoor Track Coach of the Year.
• Brannon Kidder and Casimir Loxsom - World Champions at IAFF 4 x 800M Relay.
• Danae Rivers - 3rd at NCAA Mile.
• Best ever combined Indoor finish by Mens (2nd) and Womens (1st) teams.
• Danae Rivers and Isaiah Harris - Big Ten 800M Champions Indoor
• World Record and Collegiate Record in 600M by Casimir Loxsom and Isaiah Harris at Penn State National.
• Tessa Barrett School Record 3000M. 
• Michael Shuey 3rd at NCAA and Olympic Trials Javelin.
• Solo Womens DMR results in School Record and NCAA Qualifier.

Isaiah Harris Ranked Third American In 800M By T&F News

I have the very last "PSU Is 800U" wristband to give to Isaiah Harris at the Penn State National at the end of January.  He wore the last one in a few top races (NCAA Championships and Olympic Trials?) but then lost it somewhere along his travels around the world.

3. Isaiah Harris • Penn State • 21 years old • 1:44.53 sb (#3 in US) • World Championship semis • 2nd at USAs • 2nd at outdoor NCAAs • 4th at indoor NCAAs
Harris was brilliant outdoors, going undefeated until NCAAs, where he was second to Emmanuel Korir of UTEP/Kenya. Considering Korir was one of the biggest 800 talents to ever come through the NCAA system, finishing second to him — and remember, Harris was actually gaining at the end of the race — is no shame. From there, Harris went on to finish second at USAs and fourth in his semifinal at Worlds, missing the final by two spots. Harris will be the favorite to win the 2018 NCAA title, and if he continues to progress in the same fashion as the past two years, he should get the job done.

Isaiah Harris WITH his original "PSU Is 800U" wristband.

Home Town Press Is Always The Best

With his recent 2nd place finish at the USATF Championships, Tyler McCandless awakened the reporters at the Allentown Morning Call.

Lehigh Valley Native has sights set on the 2020 Olympics.

Attending This Years Reunion And Golf Tourney May Help Us Fully Fund The Coach Groves Scholarship!

Just got word from our Chief Laundry Officer that we are ever closer to fully funding the Coach Groves Scholarship!  Just $8,770 to go.  We usually raise $4,000 or so with our Reunion and Golf Tourney contributions which is doubled by our group's corporate employers.

In other words, this is the year you should attend to see Coach Groves get the word of a full scholarship in his name while meeting with the rest of us rabble for fun and frolic!

Provided byCoolFundraisingIdeas.net

Our Rusty Boot Award Is Now A Springboard To National Recognition!

Last year's recipient of the Rusty Boot, the highest honor our group can bestow on anyone, has won another award at the USTFCCCA Convention!

Blog devotee Joe Clinton alerted me to this item. (Thanks, Joe.)  Gary Schwartz was honored with the Jimmy Carnes Distinguished Service Award at the convention.  This represents individuals who have gone above and beyond the call of duty in their service to the Association and to the sports of cross country and track & field.

I can't think of a finer person to receive this award.

(Gary) Schwartz coached for 34 years, of which included 21 years as a head coach and one award-winning season (He was named 1983 NCAA Division I National Outdoor Coach of the Year). He guided the women’s programs at Penn State and Tennessee, as well as both the men’s and women’s programs at Kansas.

Later on in his career, Schwartz spent time as an athletic administrator at Arkansas and was the technical director of the 2009 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships.

Coach Gary Schwartz.

My favorite photo of Joe Clinton, right.

Winter Runs Are Better With Mittens

Jim "Frit" Cooper recently brought us some exclusive pics from the NCAA Regional XC Meet at Lehigh.  And he has added another post for us to reminisce about those cold State College days of yore!

He relates that former PSU Marathon Record Holder George Christopher had a big bag of his grandmother's knitted mittens in his locker to hand out to all those unprepared runners going out to "do 10" in the cold.  How many of you remember these?

For many years I ran in a pair knitted for me by Heather Carmichael as a Christmas present in 1978. And since she was from a place with more sheep than people, you know they were great.  They were even blue and white!  I'm still looking for them to take a pic.  But since I now run on the treadmill most of the time, I have misplaced them...

Bringing Home The Hardware

Florida seemed to be the only place on the Eastern US without snow and freezing temperatures last weekend.  And Dave Zeiters used the opportunity to represent us in the Florida Senior Games.  He brought home 2 silvers and a bronze even though they didn't have his best event, the hurdles!

A Fuller Christmas For Everyone!

 Our William and Mary Connection and State College native, Brian Mount picked up this item from the Cumberland Valley Race Series last week. It's a great start to the Winter for the PSU Track Alumni Golfing Community.  Total domination at both distances!

10K:

      1st    32:55  Brian Fuller
      7th    36:34  Mary Fuller
     14th   42:05  Emily Fuller 
5K:

      1st    16:10  Mark Fuller 
      2nd   16:30  Kevin Fuller 
      9th    19:36  Katie Fuller

I Need To Get Into Shape To Run With Da' Toad!

Everyone already knows I am one of Billy Cvecko's greatest fans.  I have even made him our group's Undersecretary of Fun.  I'm a little miffed he hasn't scheduled me for one of his videos yet, but I am ever hopeful. Billy represents everything I am not.  Young, energetic, gregarious and always "glass half full" optimistic.  Thank goodness he's on our side!

Here's one of his latest videos, featuring him and Casimir Loxsom.  The videographer happens to be another well-known Nittany Lion!

Lions Get Better With Age (And Deserve Headlines)

I won't divulge her age, except to say she just entered the 60 and over age group this year.  Back in the day, she wasn't one of the Lady Lions that garnered headlines, but I am making up for that with this post.  She deserves more headlines than any of the politicians we hear from every stinking single day.

Janet Norem ran with my wife and was an acquaintance of mine back in the 70-somethings. She never knew that I admired her.  She always seemed to know what she wanted.  I still haven't figured that out yet.

Needless to say, she has done wonderful things for many, many people all around the world. I have fixed a few bunions in Central Pennsylvania...

I think she spends half her time in Northern California, and therefore was available to run the USATF Marathon Championships this year.  The same race that saw Tyler McCandless place 2nd overall.

Well, Janet placed 2nd overall in her age group too!  A splendid 3:21:16 in near perfect conditions.  And to think I almost scolded her for being there and not getting an exclusive pic of Tyler!

Congrats Janet.  I'm one of your biggest fans.

Flashback from a few years ago...

 "First up, Janet Norem, who may have the Alumni (Golfer) record for miles run on the Continent of Africa.  Somehow she ended up on the Left Coast from hometown Pittsburgh when she isn't overseas, and placed third in her age division at the USA San Diego Half-Marathon. At school, we probably spoke 3 or 4 words to each other, and she never realized how much I admired her.  Still do.  Someone who has done wonderful things for this world.  A Nittany Lion ambassador of the finest order."

Another Great Blast From The Past ("Before They Invented Color" As Daughter The Elder Always Put It!)

The World's Best Track and Field Museum (aka Mike Fanelli's Garage in Northern California) has released another oldie but goodie related to our Group.

This black and white pic from the Olympic year 1976 shows Dick Buerkle and Bill Rodgers duking it out in the lead of the Penn Relays 10K.  That Thursday night must have been a doozy!

Lurking back in fourth place in the pic is the eventual winner of the race, our very own Greg Fredericks.  It is unfortunate that he suffered an injury leading up to the Trials that year, as he seemed to be on track for an Olympic berth.  (Fredericks 28:24.6, Buerkle 28:26.4, Rodgers 28:33.6)

Also in the mix that night are some notable names mentioned frequently on the blog, including Bill Donakowski (29:13 10K) from Michigan (RIP), group friend Pat Davey (28:29.2 10K) from Tennessee and our very own Charlie Maguire (29:22 10K) and Paul Stemmer (13:55.6 5K).

An Administrator here at the blog with it all points out that the Interns missed another PSU Alum!  And it was a big error this time!  The 45.0 split of Mike Sands to anchor the 4 x 400M for the New York Pioneers.

Another Award For A Penn State Track And Field Alum!

Fellow Holmes Hall 2nd floor resident in 1978-1979, Mark Heckel was recently awarded for his service as one of America's finest Track and Field Officials by USATF.  I cannot think of a more wonderful man to receive recognition of this sort.  Intelligent, friendly, accomplished and always smiling is how I remember him.  His Official duties have kept him away from many of our Reunions, but he is never far away from our thoughts.  Well done, Mark!

Nearly A New Alumni Record In The Marathon!

Tyler McCandless placed second at the California International Marathon yesterday.  This was the USATF Marathon Championship.  His 3 minute PR 2:12:28 was just 5 seconds short of the Penn State Track and Field Alumni Record! (James Carney and George Malley, 2:12:23)

Tyler's race was remarkably evenly paced, actually a negative split, as he moved up in the standings from 10th at mid-race to his eventual second-place finish.  Congrats Dr. McCandless!

A Cold World Record And My Favorite Comedian

I haven't had much to go on lately and my day job is still far too demanding.  So I have to bring some non-PSU Track stuff to the fore.

First, a world record mile was just set on the Antarctic Continent.  4:17 seems a little slow when I remember Alan Scharsu running a 4:09 in the Ice Palace in 9 degree weather!

And here's a pic of my favorite comedian of all competing in track and field, although from the pic I can only surmise it was the discus event???

Jim Gaffigan walked onto the Purdue football team for his Freshman campaign but then transferred to Georgetown for his remainder of college.  So we can say he was a fellow Big Ten athlete, at least for a bit!

“I have so many fond memories from Purdue,” Gaffigan said. “Most seem to involve walking. I walked onto the football team and walked away after I didn't like getting my head bashed in. I remember walking to some classes that were, for some reason, at 7 a.m., walking to Hardee's at 11:30 at night, finally buying a bike, and then walking after it fell apart after two days. Go Boilers.”

More On Our Vatican Envoy

I reported yesterday on Penn State Track Alumni (Golfer) Matt Chadwick's photo with Pope Francis, and it has caused quite a stir among readership.  So I set the Interns on a task to come up with more, even with their post-Thanksgiving  bloating and malaise.

And they came through for me!

First on the list is a mention of Greg Fredericks in the New York Times...

PHILADELPHIA, May 26—Greg Fredericks continues to surprise people, including Harry Groves, his coach at Penn State.

Before the start of the sixmile run in the I. C. 4‐A outdoor track and field championships today, Groves held brief strategy session with his distance runner.

“What do you have in mind” the Penn State coach asked.

“We're going to set a 27:55 pace,” Fredericks replied.

The West Lawn, Pa., senior was timed in 27 minutes 54.3 seconds, the fastest performance ever by an I. C. 4‐A collegian and another indication of how far Fredericks has emerged as the East's premier distance runner.

But further into the article comes this...

His victory coupled with courageous third‐place finish by Matt Chadwick, enabled Penn State to take the first-day lead in the two‐day, 20-event at Franklin Field with 13 points.

Matt is now the Parish Priest at Saint Anthony of Padua Church in Rye, East Sussex, England.

We Really Are Everywhere!

With the holidays upcoming, it is great to know that we have a voice at the seat of the world's largest Christian denomination.  That is, the Roman Catholic Church and the Vatican.

Ken Brinker sends us this pic of Father Matt Chadwick with Pope Francis.  Ken and I both agree that the Pope may be smiling because Father Matt told him a Coach Groves story.  Maybe...

Thanksgiving Means Turkey Trots

My family again braved the cold and ran the York Turkey Trot with the other 5,000 hardy souls.  I again spun the treadmill for my 25 pitiful minutes.  But what the heck, I'll bet that beats most of the rest of you!

Here's a sampling of other Penn State Track Alum (Golfers) who burned calories before heading to the table...

Tori Gerlach.

Casimir Loxsom

Tyler McCandless

Bob Radzwich's 32nd Berwick in a row!

Brannon Kidder.

All 3 Fuller Bros. WITH ALUMNI SINGLETS (thanks to Jeff Sanden for this annual pic!)

Penn State Track And Field Alumni (Golfers) In The Indoor Record Books

It is Indoor Season and all of us are looking forward to another great season from the Nittany Lions. There will be veterans hungry for top-flight performances and also some newcomers to challenge for attention.

But if we were to look back, we would find that there are plenty of Lions on the All-Time Indoor Record Books in many categories:

• World Records:  Casimir Loxsom  600M   1:14.91   2017.  (The 600M is not recognized as a sanctioned event by the IAAF, so this is a World Best.  The 600M is one of the most competed non-recognized events worldwide.)
• US Men:  Casimir Loxsom 600M on 2 different sized tracks  1:15.33 2105 and 1:14.91  2017.
• US Women  Shana Cox   500M   1:08.70   2010.
• Collegiate Men:   Isaiah Harris  600M  1:14.96   2017.
• Collegiate Men:  Brannon Kidder    1000M   2:18.26   2016.
• Collegiate Men:  Ryan Whiting   SP  71' 3.5"  2008. (Ryan was an Assistant Coach)
• Collegiate Women:  Penn State 4x200M   1:35.65  2014.
• US Junior Men:  Robby Creese    1000M  2:19.53  2012.

Random Thanksgiving Memories

• Freezing my feet every year at a high school football game because I wore flimsy sneakers in the cold and forgot about the six preceding years doing the same thing.
• Always having the biggest turkey available which never fit into the roaster and had to have the legs and wings chopped off.
• My Pappy chopping way-too-many onions on Wednesday night for the stuffing just to make all my aunts cry.
• The backyard football game where my cousin sat on me and broke my collar bone. Ending my otherwise promising baseball career. (hee hee hee)
• Running my best race ever at the Millersville Turkey Trot in 1977.  51:11 ten miler for 5th place.  Even won a frozen turkey in the raffle.
• Watching the high school football game between New Rochelle and Iona Prep on TV.  They are across the street from each other.
• Seeing if my cousin could eat a piece of every dessert available.  He always did.
• Having a choice of three different cream puffs for dessert.
• Having all the aunts head out to the sweater sale at a factory Mill on Friday.  The precursor of Black Friday today.
• Taking my pet mouse to the Pitt football game in my coat because the dorms didn't open until after the Saturday game was finished.

I Suppose It's Now Track Season!

The Cross Country season ended early on Saturday, as the weather forced the NCAA Championships to be moved up several hours to avoid impending horrible conditions.

The Penn State Women finished one spot ahead of last year's 19th place.  We must remember that last year, a top runner didn't finish and this year 2 of them were out due to injury.  So the improvement is probably more than first glances would indicate.

And that means Coach John Gondak has received his 3rd straight Coach of the Year of the Mid-Atlantic Region!

18th

Penn State

Total Time 1:44:10

Ave. Time 20:50

Points 443

55

80

91

102

115

190

212

Two Men competed with Colin Apert besting Timothy McGowan.

159

Abert, Colin

JR-3

Penn State

5:01.6

31:13.9

219 McGowan, Timothy SR-4 Penn State 5:08.9 31:59.7

PSU Is 880U: The Roaring 20s Addition **

This is a cross-post with our wonderful friend and spouse of a Nittany Lion, Mike Fanelli.  Mike owns the finest Track and Field Museum in the world.  It is meticulously kept in the garage of his Northern California home.  Recently, the wildfires (some of them purposely set!) threatened the garage and his whole neighborhood.  He was able to stuff most of the more recent stuff into his trunk, and with little else, drive off with no knowledge of what he would find when he returned.  And this happened more than once.

Somehow, his home was spared and Mike has returned to systematically documenting the history of our sport in his very own dynamic style.  As I have said before, the Fanelli family is one of the most interesting I could imagine and I would love to create a television series about them once I am finished with being a Movie Producer (a sequel to my first film is under discussion!)

He offered me his latest find with the caveat that I hold off on posting until he was done.  Of course, I accepted. And what a doozy it is!  It includes:

• The only loss in Paavo Nurmi's triumphant American tour in 1925 was his loss to Nittany Lion 2-lapper Alan Hellfrich in the 880Y. (That made him 54/55 for the 5-month duration tour.)
• Pics from the 1923 World Record 4 x 880Y Relay from the Nittany Lions

From Mike Fanelli:

 

NURMI KILLER...in 1925, the greatest ever Flying Finn, Paavo Nurmi, embarked on a North American tour in which he ran 55 races in a 5 month period. He had been undefeated in 5 full years and held the longest ever win streak in track and field history at 121 straight (a certain American intermediate hurdler has since surpassed said streak with his 122 victories)
On the very final competition of his marathon racing tour, the bionic Finn, who by then had already collected 8 Olympic gold medals, would contest 880 yards before 20,000 spectators on the three cornered "track" within Yankee Stadium.*

Alas, his farewell footrace was foiled by Alan Helffrich, the Penn State speedster pictured here (while anchoring the Nittany Lions to a 7:48.8 world record two mile relay at Penn in 1923).
The Nittany Lion absolutely buried Nurmi in the final 75 yards and won going away. Known for his ferocious finishing speed, Helffich, the 'under the radar' spoiler, (and nearby Yonkers native) actually sported some fairly respectable credentials of his own.
By virtue of his fifth place finish in the 400 at the 1920 Trials, Helffrich became a USA Olympic relay alternate in the summer just after high school graduation...and then ran second leg on the world record setting 4 x 400 meter relay at the 1924 Games. He was a two time NCAA half mile champ (1922 and 1923) and the AAU first placer circa 1921, 1922, and 1925. As well, at one time Alan Helffrich held the world indoor records at 500 meters, 600 meters, 800 meters, plus the 880 yards.
So, I guess it's really no wonder that this 'unknown' Penn Stater proficiently pummeled Paavo circa 1925.
And that, my track nerd brethren, is your history lesson for the day ;)

Penn State 1923 World Record 4 x 880Y (7:48.8)

Alan Helffrich.

The Penn Relays WR Finish

*The newly built Yankee Stadium dates to April, 1923.

 ** I have taken some abuse for the use of the word "Addition" instead of "Edition" in the title.  But rather than the normal error of fact inherent in the blog with it all, it was a play on words!  The Interns will be accepting (not excepting!) apologies all week.

Happy Veterans Day

Greg Fredericks sends along this pic of Coach Groves, honored with a red Carnation at Juniper Village for Veterans Day.  So, even though it is a few days late, Happy Veterans Day to everyone in our Universe who served.

The only Penn Relays Coach missed was the one during his first year in the Army. He started a track team for the second year just so he could go!

Exclusive Pics From The NCAA Regionals

Thanks to Frit Cooper, we have these pics from the NCAA Regional XC Meet.  The Womens team won for the 3rd straight year (with 2 of their top runners scratched for the season!) and the Men placed 2 in the top 10, sending Timothy McGowan and Colin Abert to Nationals in addition to the 7 women.

Pos.	Penn State Women	Time
2	Jillian Hunsberger	20:05.4
5	Alison Willingmyre	20:15.1
6	Kathryn Munks	20:15.8
8	Danae Rivers	20:17.6
10	Greta Lindsley	20:21.6
1st	Penn State	31
Pos.	Penn State Men	Time
6	Timothy McGowan	30:40.1
9	Colin Abert	30:43.5
20	John McGowan	30:52.6
43	Andrew Sell	31:21.8
53	Bobby Hill	31:33.8
5th	Penn State	131

A Call To Arms

I am sending the word out that we need some volunteers to lend their Alumni Singlets to 2 alums without them for competition this Indoor Season.

Robby Creese and Darrell Hill have both expressed their desire for an Alumni Singlet and we can't possibly get them made in time. Robbie wears a size Large, while Darrell will certainly need a larger size than that. (There are a few out there, I know.)

Please help spread the word and email me if you can help. (dfbaskwill at cs dot com)

Possibly The Greatest Photo Ever On The Blog!

I am spending the weekend immersed in a Podiatric Conference in King of Prussia. While not the most enjoyable way to spend one's time, at least I get to reunite with fellow Penn State T&F Alumni Golfer, All-American (and walk-on!) John Ziegler. I was rewarded with possibly the greatest picture ever posted on the blog with it all, rivaling the selfie from the bonobo monkey featured before.

This pic was taken by Rochester native and All-American Bruce Baden. It features a youthful duo of John Ziegler and Coach Groves wearing matching 1977 or 1978 plaid "disco-era" pants!  They were boarding a plane near TMI soon after the near meltdown heading to the Dogwood Relays in Tennessee.




John tells me that coach is wearing the newest company New Balance shoes which were sized by supplying a tracing of your foot and sending them in!  Ziggy is wearing original Nike Waffles.

Also, a pic of last night's Kung Pao at the PF Changs in Plymouth Meeting, scene of a previous group Outreach. They have changed the recipe slightly in the past year, but it is still an excellent version of the world's finest dish.

Coach Of The Year

Ryan Foster has been named 2017 Mid-Atlantic Region Division II Womens XC Coach of the Year by the USTFCCCA. He guided the Fighting Scots of Edinboro to the PSAC title while wearing a kilt (not really!)


And a bonus pic of PSU T&F Alumni Golfers John Ziegler and Ron "Bile" Ferguson (Honorary member). 

We Are Closer Than Ever!

Our intrepid Chief Laundry and Morale Officer has received the latest update on the status of our push to fully fund the Coach Groves Scholarship.  We are only $14,000 short of our goal of a fully endowed Full Tuition Scholarship for a worthy athlete!

Included on the recent letter from the Varsity "S" Club is signed by 15 honored and special donors who have matched those donations from the rest of us.  But be assured, each donation no mater how large or small, makes a big impact for the future of the Program.

If you have wavered in the past, now is the time to knuckle under and give.  There may even be a thank you from Coach Groves himself at the next Reunion and Golf Outing?

I Like This F-Troop Success Story Even More Now With The Mention Of Physics!

"I guess initially I applied to Penn State because my physics professor is an alumnus and the application was easy."

-Andrew Sell

Got a little bit of a response from the previous post about the significant contributions to PSU Track and Field/XC that walk-ons have made over the years.  I have told my story briefly before, but may expand upon it for a future post.  But what I'm looking for is stories from everyone else about their walk-on experiences with Coach Groves! Every interaction with Coach is memorable.

Andrew Sell's Story 

NCAA Mid-Atlantic Regional XC

This year's Mid-Atlantic Regional XC meet is at the Lehigh Course in the Saucon Valley of Bethlehem.  (Next year's will be back at PSU!)

I have had inquiries as to the best place to watch the race and possibly get pics.  As I haven't been there since Henry Rono and Alberto Salazar duked it out in 1979 (and PSU finished 3rd!), I figured I would get this out there hoping someone could chime in!

Official Meet Site

A Long-Delayed Post

This was the longest stretch between posts on the blog with it all.  I have been very busy lately with a myriad of things and haven't had a vacation since January.  It's starting to take a toll...

But I did come across some PSU Track Alumni (Golfers) in action over the weekend in a couple of races.

Tyler McCandless placed 10th in the Pittsburgh 10-Miler with a PR over the distance of 47:56. Welcome back east, and I hope you didn't bring Winter with you!

Tyler McCandless.

And numerous alums braved the uphill/downhill Cooper Norcross Run The Bridge 10K in Philly.

• Emily Giannotti    15th
• Rick McGarry     39th
• Doreen McCoubrie   52nd

Doreen McCoubrie.

Rick McGarry.