A Prophetic Dream of the Penn State National

The only thing more boring than hearing someone tell you about their dream is hearing someone tell you about a dream that you weren't in.  That's why this post is mostly for Aaron Nadolsky, Connor Manley, Wade Endress, and Coach Sullivan.  On the off chance you are still interested in reading, well then, enjoy...

January 30, 2015.  The Penn State National.
Glen Mills High School Indoor Track Facility. Glen Mills, PA.

Tonight's DMR team is in the midst of an attempt at a national-leading mark. Connor Manley has just finished the 800 meter leg and hands off the baton to 400m leg Aaron Nadolsky in 1:51 (in this particular race someone arbitrarily decides to run the 800 before the 400.  Just go with it.)

Penn State holds a commanding lead.  Nadolsky now carries the baton, pumps his arms relentlessly, and cycles his legs through strong and steady like pistons, but he's not going anywhere.  Instead he runs in place on the start line for 47 seconds. Having covered no ground whatsoever but clearly giving it all he's got judging by the look of Greg Jennings-esque determination on his face, his leg is now apparently over as he lunges forward to hand me the baton.

At this point I'm confused.  It's not unusual at all to me that Aaron just ran in place for 47 seconds, but I do find it strange that he did it facing in the wrong direction. Nevertheless, now the baton is in my grasp and I hesitantly start jogging clockwise headed toward the turn on the backstretch.  Not really sure about what I'm doing or if I am running in the right direction, I stop dead in my tracks and look to the sideline, and calmly ask Penn State senior Wade Endress.

"Which way?"

Wade is biting his lip, with a big grin trying not to laugh, he shakes his head, and points me in the other direction.  I laugh at myself too.

No big deal. I retrace my lost 50 meters and head off for the first of (apparently) four laps.  Four minutes and four seconds later I cross the finish line feeling no fatigue, no strain. I ran most of the race in lane six, as my tremendous speed and momentum forced me to the outside lanes.

I've only run four, 200-meter laps but Coach Sullivan says I'm done. I try in vain to convince her that I am pretty sure I still have another four laps to go, but everyone on the team seems to disagree with me.  I shrug my shoulders, smile, and look up at the scoreboard to see our official, winning time:  9:33.12 - it's an NCAA leader!  The Glen Mills crowd roars its approval! Coach Sullivan informs me I closed the last 400 meters of the race in a blistering 89 seconds to secure the victory.  Everyone is impressed.  I am confused by the math, but happy nonetheless.

It was the strangest, most glorious race of our lives.  And I now issue a challenge to Penn State's season opening DMR to top Connor Manley's, Aaron Nadolsky's, and my NCAA-leading performance.  Should we expect it on January 30?  Should Glen Mills host in 2016?  Does the team need me to fly back to State College and count laps?

If you can dream it, you can achieve it.

Track and Field is Starting to Heat Up Mid-Season

The season has hit the mid-way mark with a bang in the Penn State World.  And not on just one front.

• The American Track League started in Bloomington yesterday with Penn State well represented.  That's the limited Track and Field Meet punctuated with the music of the Velveteen Playboys with front-man Paul Souza. There were 2 season world-leading performances even despite there being only 10 events. (18 feet, 8 ¾ inches in the pole vault by Mark Hollis and 8 minutes, 33.89 seconds in the 3,000-meter steeplechase by De' Sean Turner.)
• Fawn Dorr was 6th in the 400 M hurdles with 1:00.32.
• Shana Cox was 7th in the 400 M in 54.44.

There also happened to be a NCAA leading performance by a Nittany Lion at the Kehoe Twilight Track and Field Meet at Maryland by Kiah Seymour! With some other strong performances:

• Kiah Seymour won the 400 M hurdles in 55.88, tops in the NCAA this year.
• Darrell Hill continues to crush the Shot Put with a PR 64' 5 1/4", which is #3 all-time for PSU! 
• A sweep of the 400 M! (Brandon Bennett-Gree, Alex Shisler, Bernard Bennett Green and Aaron Nodolsky).
• Dual Javelin victories from Michael Shuey and Laura Loht.

And the 800M/1500M stars will be lacing up their spikes at the prestigious Payton Jordan Invite at Stanford on Sunday.

PSU is 800 U: (4 x 200 M = 800 M)

The team of  Emunuel Mpanduki, Matt Gilmore, Brandon Bennett-Green and Aaron Nodolsky set the School and Collegiate Record (1:24.70) in the 4 x 200 M Relay in the opening salvo of the record assault known as the Penn State National.  Will Barr also set the school record in the Weight Throw (67' 3.50").

 

I'm hopping on the treadmill for a miserable 1 or 2 miles then heading up to a snowy State College for this afternoon's races.  Be sure to look for me and say hello!

School Record at NCAA Championships

They did it during the Indoor Season, so why not during the Outdoor Season?  Maybe even a couple of times.  Why not?

The quartet of Aaron Nodolsky (46.6), Brandon Bennett-Green (44.8), Casimir Loxsom (45.6) and Brady Gehret (44.22), qualified first for the finals of the 4 x 400 M Relay to be held on Saturday.  This gives them the Outdoor School Record by more than 2 seconds.   3:01.52

Brady Gehret will lace up the spikes on Friday evening in the Open 400M also.

As an editorial note, I have to say that the 400M has always been the event I never wanted to run.  It always seemed to me that it was the event that created the most lactic acid and brought someone closest to collapse at the end.  In high school I was often threatened with being placed as anchor on the 4 x 440 Yard Relay, which kept me the most behaved member of the team.

Having run thousands of "quarters" in training over the years, I have a healthy respect for anyone willing and able to run that distance in under 50 seconds.  although 54 was probably my very limited PR, I was able to run a 58 at the end of a 2-Mile, for whatever that is worth.

My hats are off to these guys, and I wish them luck in the finals.  May the stick fall right into your hands and may the track be scorched!

NCAA Bound

It was a fine Regional Qualifying Meet for PSU Athletes on both the track and the field.

1. Joe Kovacs - Shot Put                                                                                                            
2. Lauren Kenney - Javelin
3. Laura Loht - Javelin
4. Will Barr - Discus
5. Brady Gehret - 400 M
6. Casimir Loxsom - 800 M
7. Rebecca Simko - 800 M
8. Melissa Kurzdorfer - Hammer
9. Aaron Nodolsky, Brandon Bennett-Green, Casimir Loxsom, Brady Gehret - 1600 M Relay (3:03.57 School Record)
10. Doris Anyanwu, Dynasty McGee, Ijeoma Iheoma, Kristin Nieuwemdam - 1600 M Relay

"A Very Good First (2) Day(s): Wheels and Watches

An Update on the Penn Relays Quest for hardware:

1. Mens Championship of America Sprint Medley Relay - Returning Champions! Update: 2 in a Row!  3:18.47 Aaron Nadolsky, Brandon Bennett-Green, Brady Gehret (45.6), Casimir Loxsom (1:50.0)
2. Mens Championship of America 4 x 800 - My favorite event  (Longest standing Event Record at Penn)
3. Mens Championship of America 4 x 400 - The Quintessential Track Event. Update: Qualified for today's championship of America!
4. Womens Championship of America Distance Medley Relay - A School Record Coming? Update:  3rd Place and a School Record! 

   11:08.41

   Rebekka Simko (3:23.0), Ijeoma Iheoma (52.8), Marta Klebe (2:09.8), Kara Millhouse (4:42.8)

5. Womens Championship Javelin - PSU is Javelin U. Update: Lauren Kenney First Place

   48.99m (160-8)  And a Watch!  Laura Loht  3rd 46.09m (151-2)

6. Women's Championship Hammer - Leading Thrower in the Big Ten!  Update:  Melissa Kurzdorfer  for the Win! And a Watch!
   

   62.53m (205-1)

7. Mens Champiopnship Shot Put - A strong duo. Update: Joe Kovacs Champion 19.94m (65-5),  Logan Caldwell 11th 17.22m (56-6)    
8. Womens Championship of America Sprint Medley Relay - 8th 
   

   3:55.19

   Dynasty McGee, Kirsten Nieuwendam, Ijeoma Iheoma, Marta Klebe (2:11.0)

Blazing Lions

The Nittany Lion Mens 4 x 400 squad blazed to a second place finish at the NCAA Indoor Championships yesterday in Boise.The quartet of Aaron Nodolsky (47.13), Brandon Bennett-Green (46.46), Casimir Loxsom (46.04) and Brady Gehret (45.69) just missed their School Record even on the tighter 200 M oval!* (3:05.31)

And Coach Sullivan looks good posing with the boys too!  Congrats to all.

Watch more video of NCAA Indoor Track & Field Championships 2012 on flotrack.org

* I know its not an oval, so get over yourself!

Nittany Lions in the "Post-Season"

NCAA Indoor Championships, Boise, Idaho.

1. Robbie Creese -  Mile
2. Casimir Loxsom - 800 M
3. Mens 4 x 400 M  (Aaron Nodolsky, Brannon Bennett-Green, Casimir Loxsom, Brady Gehret)*
4. Evonne Britton - 60 M Hurdles

IAAF World Indoor Championships, Istanbul, Turkey.

1. Ryan Whiting** - Shot Put
2. Ryan Foster (Australia) - 1500 M
3. Dominique Blake (Jamaica)  - 400 M (?)
4. Aleesha Barber (Trinidad-Tobago) - 60 M Hurdles
5. Shana Cox (Great Britain) - 400 M

* The four who set the qualifying mark.
** Honorary PSU Track Alumni Golfer and Volunteer Assistant Coach

Here's Joe Kovacs at the USATF Indoor Championships with a PR and almost qualifying for IAAF.

B1G, B1G School Record in the 4 x 400 and Another Creese Gem

The Mens 4 x 400 set a school record in the 4 x 400 at the Last Chance Alex Wilson Invitational at Notre Dame today.  Aaron Nodolsky, Brandon Bennett-Green, Cas Loxsom and Brady Gehret ran a scintillating 3:05.22, more than 2 seconds better than the school record!

Watch more video of 2012 Alex Wilson Invitational (Notre Dame) on flotrack.org

Robby Creese ran another bold and exciting race in the Mile, coming in second with a PR of 3:58.94.


Watch more video of 2012 Alex Wilson Invitational (Notre Dame) on flotrack.org

Marathon Time! and Time to Help!

Three Penn State Track and Field Alumni (Golfers) will toe the line at the Olympic Trials this weekend in Houston, Texas.  Tyler McCandless and Luke Watson will run on the men's side and Rebecca Donaghue will represent the women.  I wish them all the best of luck.  All 3 are quality role-models for any of the younger set out there.

Aaron Nodolsky was the athlete of the week after winning two events last weekend at the season's opening meet.  Which is remarkable considering what occured last week.  A fire destroyed his family's home and all their belongings.  I hope everyone among us that is able will lend a hand to a family in need.  I have sent in a personal check on behalf of our entire group for a humble amount and truly have his family in my thoughts and prayers.

Please donate directly to:

1^st Summit Bank Walmart Plaza

2600 Plank Road

Altoona, PA 16602

Care of the Nadolsky Family

Wheel!

I know I skew toward the distance events, but I'm trying more and more to include even sprinters into the mix.  No one could omit a Championship of America Penn Relays Wheel won by the Sprint Medley Relay Quartet of  Aaron Nodolsky, Brady Gehret, Cas Loxsom and Ryan Foster. What's even better is a photo on the victory stand with Coach Groves at his 66th Penn Relays.  Congrats and on to the 4 X 800!

Steve's Shisler's 1985 memories.

Randy Moor'e 1985 memories.

Outdoor Season Begins With a Record; And Raffle Item Announced!

This is a horrible cell phone picture of a blanket I had made from the great Lion Shrine Photo on the left sidebar I titled "First Light".  The blanket turned out beautifully and should be a nice addition to anyone's home.  My wife has inexplicably donated it to the cause to be auctioned off on Friday night at the Reunion Evening before the 10th Annual Coach Harry Groves Golf Tourney.

And the Outdoor Track Season has begun!  With a bang, may I add?  On the top of the list was the School Record in the 4 X 400 M Relay from the quartet of Aaron Nodolsky, Casimir Loxsom, Brady Gehret and Lionel Williams.  Their 3:07.19 bettered the old mark by more than a second.  Hanif Johnson also bettered his PR in style, winning the triple jump with a combined leap of 51 feet 8 and 1/2 inches!  Wow!

"Last Chance" and the Holy Grail!

There were several great performances this weekend at the "Last Chance" meet in Notre Dame.  PSU Men's 4 x 400 Relay squad won the race with a splendid 3:07.27.  Aaron Nodolsky, Lionel Williams, Brady Gehret and Casimir Loxsom set the PSU School Record with the effort.  Both Gehret and Loxsom had sub-46 second splits!  (Casimir also had a sub-1:46 effort in the 800 M the night before in the Distance Medley Relay.)

Caitlin Lane also lit the track on fire on Friday night with her come-from-behind victory in the mile with a 4:38.47 time over the distance.  This places her second all-time at PSU, behind only Bridget Franek, now running for Nike.

But the Big News is I have finally found my Holy Grail!  This is all thanks to our Official Photograph Supplier and Friend of the Group Walt Chadwick.  For two years we have scoured the digital and film archives all over the world.  (Actually I just kept pestering everyone I knew to find them.)  But we have finally come up with museum-quality prints of the 1985 4 X 800  PSU victory at Penn Relays (7:11.17!).  These will be unveiled at the next Harry Groves Golf Outing and Reunion Friday Night Reception.  We will also have an extensive catalog of vintage PSU prints to peruse of both Men and Women PSU Tracksters. This is just a hint of the black and white goodness that was that epic run...

A Brief Intermisssion Prior to The Indoor Championship Season

1. Grand Exalted IT Czar,  Jeff Sanden (he has a secondary title as a Distinguished Engineer at IBM) is boasting about the recent thumping "Watson" gave past Jeapardy champions on the show.  Something about Terry Bites and male sheep superiority.  What do I know about computers?  Check it out in this Collegian article.  (Way to go, Jeff!)  And he can golf too!
2. Shana Cox is set to join athletes in Britain attempting to make the National Team for World Championships and future Olympics.  Despite being born and raised on Long Island, PSU Superstar Shana's parents are both from Britain and she qualifies for their teams as soon as the paperwork can clear.  Pip pip cheerio, and all that.
3. We all can apparently still beat robots in the marathon, as they've set 4 days aside for the first all robot competition in Japan. (Sorry to those on the Left for the Fox News link!)
4. Robots won't matter at all any more after the Singularity hits.  Try to stay alive until 2045 or so, why don't you?
5. What's up with the water supply in Altoona?  Wade Endress (Altoona Area/Altoona PA) will join teammates Brady Gehret and Aaron Nodolsky at Penn State next year. Send me a bottle of that stuff, will you?
   

There's Those Orange Spikes Again!

The Nittany Lion squads split up into three parts and traveled all over the country two weeks prior to the Big Ten Championships.  Some decided that State College didn't have enough snow, so they headed to the Tyson Invitational in Arkansas!  Others wanted rain instead of snow and split for Washington and the Husky Classic.  Still others longed to get away from the hustle and bustle that is PSU, so they headed to Akron, Ohio and the Akron Invitational!

Caitlin Lane apparently saw PSU Track Alum Mark Hawkins' beautiful spikes and garnered her own set in order to achieve a PR in the 3000 M at the Husky Classic.*  Her 9:18.74 time puts her in the upper echelon of Lady Lions all-time.

The Men's Distance Medley Relay squad placed second at the same meet with a time of 9:35.68, second place all-time in PSU Indoor history. Owen Dawson, Aaron Nodolsky, Lionel Williams and Ryan Foster had a wonderful tune-up for the Big Tens in 2 weeks.

And the Big Men again nabbed first and second place with excellent throws in Akron Ohio.  Blake Eaton edged Joe Kovacs, 62' 10.5" to 62' 1.25".  Both also placed well in the discus, an event not commonly  seen indoors.

Sam Borchers emerged from the early heats in the mile with a season best of 4:03.91, a race that saw 4 PSU runners under 4:10.  (Nick Scarpello, 4:09.62; Tyler Corkedale, 4:09.23; and Owen Dawson 4:07.47)

* Liberties may have been taken with the reported timing of the spikes purchase for dramatic effect.