A Lion In Winter

Lost amid the 800U shenanigans last weekend was Tim McGowan's 2021 Track debut in Austin, Texas. His 28:58 10K placed 5th in the meet and let him get together with blog favorites Isaiah Harris and Billy "Toad" Cvecko. Thought I would give him a shout-out for the fine opening effort! 

And let's not forget about THE TOAD himself, with a 15:19  5K hop!  Not bad for a 800M amphibian!!!  I thought he was there just as a celebrity.

It Was A Banner Weekend For 800U

 

Wow.  There was finally a lot going on.  There was a School Record in the Pole Vault and a second place finish at the Big Ten Indoor Championships.  Luke Knipe scaled the heights to 17' 4.5"!!!  Sincere Rhea leaned better than all the rest to snag the 60HH Championship.  Whoa.

There were a few other finishes for the scaled-down teams sent to Geneva, Ohio.  But mostly, the 800U dominance continued for the Men and Women.

• Dom Perretta overcame injuries, Covid, surgeries and his recent 300-game bowling incident to return to the top of the Podium in the 800M .  He did it in a fashion favored by Yevgeni Arzhanov in the 1972 Olympic Finals.  Only this time Yevgeni holds on!  I have been thinking that this would happen each of the last 100 times I have watched that race, but here it is many years later with one of our own striking gold.  (12 of the last 14, and 5 in-a-row B1G)
  
• The dual Victorias medaled in the Womens 800M.  Not to be outdone by Dom, Victoria Vanriele channeled Dave Wottle instead and caught everyone at the tape.  Victoria Tachinski held on for 3rd.(5 in-a-row B1G titles)
  

 

 

https://twitter.com/i/status/1365704786625105926

Still, the Alumni provided even more 800U goodness.

• Instead of racing, Danae Rivers danced for the duration in the Dance Marathon to benefit the Four Diamonds Fund.
• Isaiah Harris bounced back from his disappointing opening season race to win the 800 in Autin, Texas  with a 1:46 and change.  He says he is confident on 1:43 when the time comes at the Olympic Trials...

Tim McGowan, Billy Cvecko and Isaiah Harris in Texas.

 

The Toad Interviews The Hat

 

Although it has appeared on the Facebook Page before, I wanted to feature The Undersecretary of Fun's epic interview with Dave Wottle on the blog itself.  I wanted to interview him previously and even made him, teammate Sid Sink and Evgeni Arkhonov honorary members of 800U.  All of them accepted.  The difference between Billy Cvecko and I is that Billy always follows up on his ideas.  His dogged determination is another feature I admire.

 

Here are some links to previous posts featuring all of the key figures:

Sid Sink Also Wore A Hat

Yevgeni Arzhanov Joins 800U

Greg Fredericks Sorta Kinda Helped Dave Wottle Tune Up 

More From Yevgeni Arzhanov

Interviews With A Big Man : Nobody Beats The Toad, Even Track And Field News!

 

First up, we must note the results of our previous poll/survey into which abbreviation is preferred by our Universe of Incredible Track and Field Members.

PR (Personal Record)	32	94%
PB (Personal Best)	2	6%

As I suspected, PR (Personal Record) is overwhelmingly preferred by everyone.  Now we must ask ourselves why the governing bodies and Magazine of Record always use PB (Personal Best).  It couldn't be because of Puerto Rico, could it?  Does anyone know?  Does anyone care?

Now to the meat of our Post... 

The Toad is a rabbit.

 

Anyone paying attention knows how much I admire our Undersecretary of Fun, Billy Francis Cvecko. His infectious enthusiasm, optimism and wholesomeness makes me happy amidst the worst this world has to offer.  He makes surviving through 2020 worthwhile!

While the recent Track and Field News article on Joe Kovacs was great to see, The Toad's in-depth "run" (and throw) with Joe takes precedence over The Bible of the Sport.  Now realizing Joe takes golf seriously, let's all work on getting him to one of our Reunions/Golf Tourney in the future. 

2X World Champ Joe Kovacs Is A Human Cannon

And even more good stuff is coming from The Toad soon!  Love ya, Billy.

 

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:

The Alpha and the Omega

With the Villanova trouncing of Kansas last night, Spott Moskowitz was relegated to "a little left of the Bell curve peak" in the PSU Track Alumni Bracket Pool.  He would have finished in the top 10 had Kansas been able to upset Villanova.  C'est La Vie.

Spott is seemingly unfazed at his Bracket loss.

 And here's our Undersecretary of Fun Billy Cvecko rabbitting the 800 at the Texas Relays!

A Nice Weekend For Brannon Kidder

Brannon Kidder started out his weekend of running by helping Edward Cheserek run the second fastest Indoor Mile of all time.  He was the rabbit for the first 800M, tasked with running a 1:55 to set up the "solo" effort of Edward.

Kidder led Cheserek out, hitting 209 meters in 31 seconds and 409 in 59.x with Piazza behind him and Cheserek cruising in third. The crowd let out a roar when Cheserek crossed 809 in 1:56-low, signaling that the sub-3:50 was well and truly on. Kidder stepped aside after 850 meters, his duty done.

Edward Cheserek with his rabbits, Drew Piazza and Brannon Kidder.

Cheserek was pleased with his rabbit's efforts following his 3:49.44!

 Brannon wasn't done for the weekend.  He ran the Mile on Saturday.  He ran a PR 3:56.3.  More importantly, he crossed an official 1500M mark in under 3:39.5, with 3:39.17, thus surpassing the World Indoor Championship standard one week prior to the USATF Indoor Championships.  Congrats, Brannon.

And also in Boston, Casimir Loxsom ran in the New Balance Indoor Grand Prix 800M, placing 6th in 1:49.29.  The big news there is he ditched his Alumni Singlet for one of Billy Cvecko's Toad Track Club Singlets!

Photo by Tom Shiffer.

Season Opening Meet Is More Than A Rustbuster! And a Homecoming For An Officer Of The Group

Don't forget, there is only one day left to get your vote in for the 2017 Performance of the Year.  Go to the full website.  Look at the left sidebar and vote for your top 2 out of the 6 finalists!

There were 2 School Records set in the first meet of the season at the Horace Ashenfelter Indoor Track.

• Bryce Williams stunned everyone except himself with an opening meet School Record in the Triple Jump.  (53’-3.50”)
• David Lucas heaved the heavy ball further than any Nittany Lion ever. 
  (70’-7.25”)

But in my eyes, the performance of the meet was our very own Undersecretary of Fun Billy Cvecko butting heads in the 800M with the younger crowd.  He finished third in 1:56.06.  And I'm betting he never gets enough sleep!

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!

A Glorious Day In State College

So I fled the real world yesterday for the wonders of Happy Valley.  I left behind all the negativity of bills, taxes and home maintenance requirements.  And I was rewarded like I never expected to be!

It was a glorious day in Happy Valley, with sunshine and temperatures reaching to 68 degrees! In the middle of February!  And did I mention that I'm talking about State College?

Here are some of the highlights of my day:

• Having Daughter the Younger drive the whole way to State College.  Got to see Daughter the Elder and our dog Pooky!
  
  
   
   
• Got to the track just in time to watch the final laps of the solo DMR effort of the Women to qualify for the NCAA.  Danae Rivers brought them home in 11:01 (and change) which is now the school record and the #2 time in the NCAA this year!  That makes 5 for 5 meets with a school record for Danae!

•  Saw Isaiah Harris leisurely run the first few laps in the Mile and then turn on the jets for a PR 4:05 (and change). 
  
• Had the opportunity to say hello to Coach Gondak and Owen Dawson.
  
  
  
  
• Had the pleasure to speak with the Skerpons and watch their daughter Elyse run a fine 600M to qualify for the Big Ten meet. The Skerpons haven't changed a bit in the years since their 1983 wedding.  I have.  I dare you to find me in the pic!

• Got word from the internets that PSU Track Alumni (Golfers) fared quite well in 800M shenanigans across the globe! 

 From jolly ole' England, as relayed from Ken Brinker!

Men’s 800: Cas Loxsom Gets a Big Win and a World Leader

One week ago, Loxsom looked out of place running the 1000m at the Millrose Games. But he closed quickly in that race to move up for second over the final 200, and he shined today in an event he’s far more comfortable in, the 800.

Loxsom got out well and stuck right on rabbit Bram Som, who took him through 400 in 50.28. By the time Som dropped out at 500, Loxsom had opened up a big gap on the field and at the bell (1:17.50), he had a lead of approximately 15 meters.

The rest of the field, led by 2015 world bronze medallist Amel Tuka, was closing hard as Loxsom was starting to tie up. But he dug deep and managed to hold on, and was rewarded for his aggressive running with a world leader of 1:46.13. Tuka wound up second in 1:46.59, a Bosnian national record, while American Erik Sowinski finished fourth in 1:46.85.

While in Arkansas, there was a minor earthquake as Billy  Cvecko slipped on his Alumni Singlet!

8

Billy CVECKO

Unattached

1:55.14

1 (4)

That's the leading time in the world this year and Cas's PR! And it isn't a bad effort by Billy, who is the hardest working man in track and field!

Lunch was Kung Pao Chicken, which was smuggled into the Ashenfelter Complex because the entire security world was focused on the Bryce Jordan Center and the Dance Marathon!

Dinner ended up being 3 lobster tails and bananas foster cheesecake.  Technically the lactose intolerance episode didn't occur until after midnight, so yesterday was still all golden!

Not a bad day in February in State College, am I right?

A Spur Of The Moment Trip And 800U Alumni Action!

I am making a run to State College and may try to see some of today's meet.  It just seemed time to flee the real world for just a day!

But other Penn State Track and Field Alumni (Golfers) are in 800M action across the globe...

Casimir Loxsom is in jolly 'ole England for his first 800M of the year:

 

 And Undersecretary of Fun Billy Cvecko has brought the spikes out of storage and is lacing them up in Arkansas!  Good luck Billy.  I read recently on the internet (I think on Isaiah Harris's Twitter feed)  that one could replicate the feeling of an 800M simply by lighting yourself on fire and then rolling in broken glass to put out the fire!

Undersecretary Of Fun Checks In

Billy Cvecko is essentially always moving.  He says he sleeps, but I don't believe him. His latest foray has taken him to the Northwest corner of the US and the lair of the Brooks Beasts.

Billy is being held up by new 600M Indoor World Record Holder Casimir Loxsom, left, and Brooks Beast rookie Brannon Kidder, second from right.  This is certainly a very fine 4x800M team, with an alternate. 

And watch Billy's newest video for Run Junkie as he visits fellow alum Conrad Lippert!   Why doesn't Billy ever visit me?  A podiatry spot would be interesting, wouldn't it?

A Final Post From Eugene!

"Once a Lion, always a Lion."

-one of the cornerstones of our Group.

Former Lion and transfer to Texas Byron Robinson punched his ticket to Rio with his second place finish in the 400M Hurdles in a blistering 48.79!

Byron Robinson and Undersecretary of Fun Billy Francis Cvecko.

And there was a Mini-Reunion in Eugene.  Attendees included Coach Gary Schwartz and his wife Myrna, Tom Rapp and his wife Mary Rawe Rapp, Patty Murnane Nosack and Janet Norem.  No word on who won the putting contest...

Some Of My Favorite People

The Olympic Trials are coming up in 2 weeks and PSU athletes are very active! 

• Darrell Hill scared 70 feet with a PR of 21.16M in the Shot Put!

Darrell Hill.

• Casimir Loxsom ran a tune-up 600M (1:17) at the Brooks PR, which was broadcasted live by FloTrack and our very own Undersecretary of Fun Billy Francis Cvecko!

Billy Cvecko, center, with Cas Loxsom, right.

And here's one of me that my High School Principal Carl Nelson dug up for me! He is now north of 90yo and grandparent of some fine Nittany Lions. A very great man.

An 880Y in 1977.

This Will Be Fun To Watch

"Check out these flip-flops."

-Billy. 

As a paid subscriber to Flo Track (so I could watch the Penn Relays!), it is great to know that their newest hire is Billy Francis Cvecko, our very own Undersecretary of Fun!

I hope they realize what a gift that they gave themselves by hiring him.  I really look forward to what is to come.  Maybe he will even get them to do a feature on our group someday???   (Hint, hint!)

"Billy, Billy, Billy..."

And there are plenty of latecomers letting me know they are coming to the Reunion.  Some of them are golfing too.  Come Join Us!!! 

Billy's Intro Video!!! 

A Very Good Day At The Penn State National

I had the pleasure to spend a long amount of time with some of my favorite people yesterday at the Penn State National Indoor Meet.  Having to be dropped off nearly an hour early for the meet so the girls could attend the PSU Student Housing  Expo at the HUB, I was pleased to see that Greg Fredericks brought Coach Groves early too!

I had the pleasure to speak with Coach and Greg for an extended time.  It is wonderful to see that Coach is happy in his new residence, relates the food as "good" and only occasionally gets into trouble.  About exactly as any of us would figure.

Greg also delivered the raw materials that will become the ultimate PSU Track Alum Annual Award at our Reunion and Coach Groves Golf Tourney weekend.  Coach Bill Whittaker is commended for donating the item for our cause.  You all will enjoy the item's unveiling at the next Awards Dinner.

I also got to talk to Steve Shisler. whose son Alex Shisler finished 3rd in the 400M Invitational!  Beth Shisler could not be there, as she had traveled "for work".  That same excuse becomes mine next week when I miss the Sykes and Sabock Challenge and Coaches Reception.  I will be at the meeting of the Association of Miserable Curmudgeons while the rest of you enjoy yourselves.

Tim Backenstose made a surprise appearance and got to see a very fine 800M with Brannon Kidder and 3 other top NCAA finalists duke it out on the Ashenfelter Oval.  Brannon topped them all with a 1:47.01 time, near the top of this year's qualifying marks.  We both also witnessed a school record 1-Mile by Tori Gerlach with a 4:37.83, eclipsing Bridget Franek's previous record.

But my favorite part of the day was convincing the energetic dynamo Billy Francis Cvecko to become a contributor to the blog!  With his criss-crossing of the Continent and his millions of friends, he can't help but be a boon to our efforts. He isn't our Undersecretary of Fun for nothing!

I always thought there was a chance that Billy WAS the Lion until I finally saw them both in the same room.

 

Big Ten Time!

The official pump up video for the Big Ten Indoor Championships this weekend. Video produced by Billy Cvecko.

Penn State Track & Field - Big Ten Championship Pump Up Video from Billy Cvecko on Vimeo.

Meet information including event schedule and ticket sales.

Billy Da Kid With Another Video

"Video Production Manager" Billy Cvecko's highlight video from the 2014 Nittany Lion Challenge has been picked up by Flotrack once again. He is certainly making a name for himself.

 

The big 3 will all be in attendance this weekend to cover the Penn State National. Big 3 being Flotrack, Billy, and us (we aren't big but whatever).

 

To tack onto Dave's post this morning. Casimir Loxsom will be shaking off the rust for his 4x8 showdown. He'll be lacing em up Saturday at the Camel City Hilton Garden Invitational in Winston-Salem, NC. I was wrong with my last prediction but that won't stop me from saying we will have a new indoor alumni 800 record. There is a good chance that will be the case whenever Cas lines up in his post-collegiate career. I expect him to have rewritten our record book in the mid-distance events when it is all said and done.

Back to the Future

College is a training ground for the professional world. Two guys on the varsity team are looking to be great additions to the Alumni Blog upon graduation. Senior Bernard Bennett-Green will be the varsity teams official blogger and Billy Cvecko is putting together some great highlight videos. Here is one from the Blue/White Meet.

The Penn State Relays are scheduled for this afternoon and we do have some alumni action with an entry in the 1000 meter run and two distance medley relays. Check back tomorrow for a recap and pictures of the meet.

A Christmas Present From Billy Da Kid.

Here is a video of Casimir Loxsom that has been making the internet rounds, including the front page of LetsRun and Flotrack. Filmed by current varsity team member Billy Cvecko and discusses Cas transition to post collegiate training. 

Casimir Loxsom from Billy Cvecko on Vimeo.

Enjoy and Merry Christmas!