End Of Year Alumni Shenanigans

Old School meets New School.  Brannon Kidder takes a run with an ex-Lion teammate (and Duck!) John Zishka during the holiday break.

And Billy Cvecko interviews the top high-schooler, Katelyn Touhy before she matriculates at North Carolina State:

Joe Kovacs Won More Than Our Performance Of The Year!

It was a very strong year for PSU Alumni.  We had incredible performances that ended up not receiving any votes in our poll.  I find it hard to believe that Brannon Kidder's appearance in the 2019 World Championship 800M Semi-Finals failed to garner even a single vote!  Even Michael Shuey didn't get a single vote for his 4th place finish at the Pan Am Javelin toss.

To be honest, both of those performances were overshadowed by other performances from the same Lions.  Brannon posted a vote for his 3:35.27 1500M and Michael came in a strong 4th place for his National Championship in the USATF Javelin.

There was a tie for 2nd place between Danae River's NCAA Championship in the Indoor 800M and Doug Walter's donation of part of his liver to his nephew.  (Wow, tough crowd!)
But again on the top of the podium was Joe Kovacs, this time for his incredible last throw victory by 1cm with a Shot Put toss over 75 feet in distance by two other competitors.

Track and Field News called this the best ever Shot Put competition and has named it as their Performance of the Year also.  I'm sure Joe will value our honor as more special!

Last Chance To Vote In The 2019 Performance Of The Year Poll

VOTE FOR YOUR TOP 3!

What are the three top performances of the year by PSU Track Alumni? Vote for 3)

Danae Rivers Outdoor Big Ten 800M and 1500M Championships.

Brannon Kidder 800M World Championships Semi-Finals. (11th)

Danae Rivers Collegiate Record in Indoor 1000M.

Michael Shuey Pan Am Games 4th in Javelin.

Danae Rivers National Champion NCA Indoor Championships 800M

Doug Walter donates part of his liver to his nephew.

Darrell Hill wins "The Match" Shot Put.

Brannon Kidder on the World Record 4 x Mile Team.

Danae Rivers School Rercord Indoor 800M.

Joe Kovacs World Championship in Shot Put with over 75' .

Womens Sprint Medley Relay Championship of America at Penn Relays.

Justin Ofatan on the World Record Under-20 World Record 4 x 100M team at Pan Ams.

Brannon Kidder's 3:35.27 1500M at Brooks PR Meet.

Michael Shuey National Champion USATF Javelin.

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Ho, Ho, Ho From Coach Groves

Happy Holidays!

And don't forget to vote for the Performance of the Year 2019!!! Vote for your top 3

What are the three top performances of the year by PSU Track Alumni? Vote for 3)

Danae Rivers Outdoor Big Ten 800M and 1500M Championships.

Brannon Kidder 800M World Championships Semi-Finals. (11th)

Danae Rivers Collegiate Record in Indoor 1000M.

Michael Shuey Pan Am Games 4th in Javelin.

Danae Rivers National Champion NCA Indoor Championships 800M

Doug Walter donates part of his liver to his nephew.

Darrell Hill wins "The Match" Shot Put.

Brannon Kidder on the World Record 4 x Mile Team.

Danae Rivers School Rercord Indoor 800M.

Joe Kovacs World Championship in Shot Put with over 75' .

Womens Sprint Medley Relay Championship of America at Penn Relays.

Justin Ofatan on the World Record Under-20 World Record 4 x 100M team at Pan Ams.

Brannon Kidder's 3:35.27 1500M at Brooks PR Meet.

Michael Shuey National Champion USATF Javelin.

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Performance Of The Year 2019 (Vote For 3)

What are the three top performances of the year by PSU Track Alumni? Vote for 3)

Danae Rivers Outdoor Big Ten 800M and 1500M Championships.

Brannon Kidder 800M World Championships Semi-Finals. (11th)

Danae Rivers Collegiate Record in Indoor 1000M.

Michael Shuey Pan Am Games 4th in Javelin.

Danae Rivers National Champion NCA Indoor Championships 800M

Doug Walter donates part of his liver to his nephew.

Darrell Hill wins "The Match" Shot Put.

Brannon Kidder on the World Record 4 x Mile Team.

Danae Rivers School Rercord Indoor 800M.

Joe Kovacs World Championship in Shot Put with over 75' .

Womens Sprint Medley Relay Championship of America at Penn Relays.

Justin Ofatan on the World Record Under-20 World Record 4 x 100M team at Pan Ams.

Brannon Kidder's 3:35.27 1500M at Brooks PR Meet.

Michael Shuey National Champion USATF Javelin.

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Alumni Singlets Always Lead The Pack!

 

Thanks to W&M friend Brian Mount for the pic.

More Christmas Goodness From Penn State Track Alumni

Artie Gilkes and Rebecca Donaghue are happy to be a long-standing part of the First Night State College running scene.

First Night State College is a family-friendly New Year’s Eve celebration that has taken place in downtown State College since 1994 and has become an annual tradition for many. For area runners, part of that tradition means lacing up their sneakers and taking part in the First Night 5K Resolution Run, a race started in 1997 as an addition to the daylong festivities.

For couple Rebecca Donaghue and Artie Gilkes, who are both runners and State College Area High School track and field and cross-country coaches, the First Night 5K Resolution Run has been a tradition since they moved to the area 16 years ago.
“We moved to this area because running led us here,” says Gilkes, a former Penn State track and field athlete, who explains that the couple relocated to central Pennsylvania as Donaghue’s professional running career was taking off.

Thanks to Greg Fredericks for sending me the link!

Cuteness On The Small Screen With A Little Vulgarity On The Big Screen

Mike Pfaff knows what it takes to make it onto both the Small Screen and The Big Screen.  But that took hard work and much practice.  He didn't know what his 4-year-old Emma figured out way before he did.  Just be cute!

Merry Christmas everyone.

And my very own Big Screen debut has been pushed back by production delays but should occur in March 2020.  Here's the trailer for The Dark Net.  I hope that Director, Johnny Johnson found 3 seconds of my acting satisfactory enough to include!

Caution: The use of profanity and gore are readily apparent in this video, as it is in virtually all films in the horror genre.  The f-word features prominently here.

 

This Team Got Top Billing

I think Coach Teri Jordan is starting to miss us now that she has retired to sunny Florida.  She will soon be receiving her very special edition Alumni Singlet to let her know we haven't forgotten her either.  (Don't forget to send us a pic!)

She posted a picture of the 1985 XC team at the NCAA Championships where they got 11th!  And unlike the 1984 band Spinal Tap, the Championships got top billing on the sign!