A Lull In The Action Means Housecleaning Commences

With not much happening in the Track World, it is time to do a little Spring cleaning, even if it is a little late.  So let's all get to work and crowdsource an updated Penn State Track Alumni Record Book!  Sorry ladies, I don't even know how to begin compiling one for the women.  Maybe an ambitious member of our group will try!!!!    Hint, hint!

But at least we have a starting point for the Men's Records which includes Indoor, Outdoor and Road records.  Matt Groves has done much of the legwork from his dad's notes in the past.  We are certain that our listing needs updating, and that's where you come in.  If we all get together on this we can fully update the listings in no time.

Let's start with the Men's Outdoor List:  Any changes can be made via the Facebook Page or on the comments below.  Please help!

Our first update to the list doesn't change the record, but clarifies it.

(George)Malley's AR was NOT the 8:21.72 you have listed. Henry Marsh had the AR at the time (1978) and it was 8:21.55...Malley's AR was in 1977 at the AAU National Championships at Westwood, CA at 8:22.54.

Some Old-Time Junior Records Include 2 Teammates

Brian Boyer sent us an old program from the TAC (used to be the AAU and is now the USATF) Junior Championships held at the Nittany Lion Track in 1983.  I was ensconced in Podiatry School at the time and missed the whole thing entirely.  Previously, I included two of the ads from the program and here is a listing of the Junior Records at the time.  Two teammates of mine are in the ranks as well as a Nittany Lion Great from before my time. 

• John Zishka       (Lancaster, OH HS)     5000M     13:55.65     6/17/1980
• Paul Lankford    (NY HS)                      400 IH       50.87        6/18/1977
• Alvin Jackson    (Nittany Valley TC)     Hammer    202' 2"      6/22/1973

The Authoriatative* PSU Mens Alumni Indoor Records

Also compiled by Matt Groves from original sources (mostly his dad) and put into an Excel spreadsheet, translated into a pdf, sent to me via email  and then made into another Excel Spreadsheet, poorly manipulated and then posted in the blog that "gets everything wrong".

*Authoritative is meant as a bit of a joke, as was Definitive in a previous post.  Everyone (most) know that I'm an authority on things other than PSU Track Records and Excel.  Unfortunately, those with more knowledge about these things are hard to find and motivate to participate. We get corrections and admonitions all the time about things we have gotten wrong.  We welcome them.**  That's kind of the whole point of trying to generate interest in joining our group to honor Coach Groves along with the past and future of PSU Track/XC. Remember the mirth, and you can skip the golf.

** Small, caffeinated and poo-flinging monkeys are currently hard at work correcting the PSU Mens Alumni Road Race Records.  Another set of horrible monkeys is being recruited right now to correct these Indoor marks and the upcoming Outdoor marks.***

***Scorn and admonitions can be directed at me for any errors in accuracy, formatting and just general disdain at the effort.  I'm getting used to it.
 

Distance	Mark	Individual, Team	Year
55 meters	6.1	Barney Ewell '42	1947
"	6.1	Mike Sands '75	1980
60 meters	6.77	Mike Shine '76	1978
200 meters	21.25	Ryan Olkowski '02	2003
300 meters	34.5	Mike Sands '75	1976
400 meters	47.5	Mike Sands '75	1976
500 meters	1:03.9	Mike Sands '75	1976
800 meters	1:51.0	Randy Moore ' 85	1986
1000 meters	2:22.66	Randy Moore ' 85	1986
1500 meters	3:42.3	Larry Managn '81	1982
One mile	4:03.7	Greg Fredericks '72	1975
3000 meters	8:08.7	Greg Fredericks '72	1979
Two mile	8:35.0	'77	1979
5000 meters	13:39.27	James Carney '01	2005
60 meter HH	7.70	Mike Shine '76	1978
DMR	9:48.59	Owen Dawson '12, Kevin Fuller ' 10,	2012
		Ryan Foster ' 11, Brian Fuller ' 09
High Jump	7' 2 1/4"	Dave Kriz '96	1999
Long Jump	25' 3 1/4"	Rob Boulware '87	1988
Triple Jump	53' 2 3/4" (16.22m)	Ricardo Hall	1995
Pole Vault	17' 2"	Rick Kleban '85	1988
35 lb weight	65' 0"	Alvin Jackson '77	1980
Shot Put	70' 4 1/4" (21.44m)	C.J. Hunter '90	1999
Pentathlon	3909 pts.	Jamie Cook ' 97	2002
Heptathlon	5827 pts.	Ryan Olkowski '02	2005

 

Penn State Track Alumni Records: Throws Division

Well, as most of you know, this is the field where I know the absolute least. But I have become more of a fan of the events as time has gone by.  The artistry of the events is mesmerizing.  Combine that with the different applications of strength needed in each of the events, and they remind me of the artistry involved in a baseball pitching duel, my favorite pro sports event. The ability to control strength and apply it in just the small window of optimum performance is not something many of us can possibly do.  My pinnacle in the strength department occurred in a "weight-room" session during Sophomore Year where Coach Groves just wouldn't leave like usual.  So I couldn't "weight" until he left to end my session.  So there I was attempting to bench press my own weight.  And I did it! I actually bench pressed 120 lbs. when I weighed 118 pounds.  Probably the most pitiful of any of our readers.  (Use the Comments to post your best bench press mark!)

Anyway, here are the Alumni records in the Throws.  They are almost all pretty old, and I'm not aware of  any newer and better marks.  That's where you come in. Let us know if there are changes to be made.

Hammer: 64.60 [211' 11"}, Alvin Jackson '77 1979
Shot Put: 21.87 (71' 9") C.J. Hunter '90  2000
Discus: 69.62 (228' 5"), Knut Hjeltnes '75 1985
Javelin (old): 82.90 (272' 0"), Jim Stevenson '66 1964
Javelin (new): 70.40 [231' 0"}, Rob Austin '96 (PS.Open) 1997
Javelin (new): 71.70 (235' 9 1/4") Dave Masgay (Penn Relays) 2000

Knut Hjeltnes with Grete Waitz.(RIP)  Could Grete out bench press me back in the day?