2012 Performance of the Year Winner!

Congratulations to Bridget Franek!  She beat out several worthy competitors in the competition, which garnered more votes than any other in the history of the blog.

1. Bridget Franek making the Finals of the Olympic Steeplechase. (34%)
2. Robbie Creese setting the American Junior and Collegiate Indoor 1000 M mark. (30%)
3. Penn Relays 4 x 800 M Championship of America. (23%)
4. Brady Gehret making the Olympic Trials 400 M Finals. (7%)
5. Penn Relays Sprint Medley Relay Championship of America. (3%)

Bridget wins a Prize package worth $100 towards the purchase of items in our Group Store.  We hope to see her at the May Reunion and Coach Groves Golf Tourney.  (The others receive parting gifts and a home version of our game.)

Thanks for your vote!

Nittany Lions Still in Action All Over the World

I'm not even talking about the three Nittany Lions heading to London in 3 weeks with our Throws Assistant Coach Ryan Whiting.

• Brady Gehret will be running the open 400 M and the 4 x 400 M Relay at the "Under 23" NACAC Championships in Guanajuato, Mexico.
• Casimir Loxsom will be running the 800 M at the same NACAC Championships.
• Joe Kovacs started his pro-career in Paris at the Samsung Diamond League Meet.  He started it in style with a second place effort!

• Matt Lincoln is in action following the Canadian Trials.  His next stop is the Hub City Classic in Moncton. 

Here's a great pic from Tyler McCandless on a trail run.  What do you call two members of the moose species?  Meeses?  And who here thinks he actually caught that thing?

 

PSU is Shot Put U

Blake Eaton, Ryan Whiting and Joe Kovacs following the Finals of the Shot Put at the USATF Championships and Olympic Trials.

The Happy Valley trio did some extraordinary work over the two-day competition.  Blake ended up in 11th place3 (61' 8 1/2").  Joe set the new PSU record with a 4th place finish (69' 2") and Ryan made the Olympic team with his second place toss (71' 1/4").

And don't let me forget that Altoona's own PSU Sophomore Brady Gehret made the finals in the 400 M, where he ran the fastest 300 M of his life.  As he said after, "Too bad the race is 400 M!" .  I cannot wait to see what the next two years will bring him!


Watch more video of 2012 U.S. Olympic Team Trials, Track & Field on flotrack.org




Next up for PSU is Bridget Franek in the Steeplechase Prelims.

Four With Nittany Lion Ties In Finals Today

Brady Gehret will be smack dab in the middle of today's 400 M Finals at the Olympic Trials after he again tied his PR with a 45.22 tin the semi-finals.  Good Luck Brady!

And all 3 Shot Putters from Happy Valley will appear in today's Finals!  Assistant Coach Ryan Whiting is currently in third place while Blake Eaton and Joe Kovacs are in 5th and 10th place with the final 3 throws to come. Even I have caught Shot Put Fever lately with Blake and Joe checking out my form at the Alumni "Run" in May.

Thanks to Larry Mangan for the article and my daughter Anne for the photo!

Gehret Moves On!

Brady Gehret was third in his heat of the opening round of the Olympic Trials 400 M, securing a place in the semi-finals.  His overall place was 11th with a 45.80 in the cold,cold Oregon rain.

Here's an article in the CDT on Brady sent by our intrepid and ever-vigilant Datum Procurement Specialist.  The photo was secured from Rebekka Simko, who placed 27th in the 800 M with a 2:07.33. Casimir Loxsom placed 26th in the 800 M with a 1:49.25.

Rebecca Donaghue ran a game 10000 M through the puddles,  placing 13th in 32:37.39.

Today, 3 with Nittany Lion ties put themselves in the circle in the Mens Shot Put.

First Up at Trials Will Be Gehret and Loxsom

The first PSU Athletes to see action in the Olympic Trials will be Brady Gehret and Casimir Loxsom, pictured here on the right and left with the other members of the Penn Relays Sprint Medley Relay victors.

Brady Gehret will be in the opening round of the 400 M on Friday June 22 at 3:10 PM (Pacific Time).  He has qualified with the 14th fastest time in 45.22.

Casimir Loxsom will lace up his spikes at 5:20 PM (Pacific Time) on the same day in the 800 M.  He has the 8th fastest time in qualifying with his 1:45.28.

Here is a listing of the TV Coverage for the events.

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!

Nittany Lions Start NCAA Championships Today

There will be 6 Nittany Lions competing today at the NCAA Championships in Des Moines.

1. Will Barr - Discus
2. Lauren Kenney - Javelin
3. Laura Loht - Javelin
4. Casimir Loxsom - 800 M
5. Brady Gehret - 400 M
6. Rebekka Simko - 800 M

PSU is 800 U  and  PSU is Javelin U!

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

The B1G Championships Were Loaded

In probably the deepest Big Ten Championships in years, PSU garnered some impressive victories.  Some Olympic "A" standards, Olympic Trials qualifiers and some top ten US times/distances were on view.  The Lions get a week off to strut their stuff in front of alums at next week's Reunion and Harry Groves Golf Tournament. You probably can still show up for the Reunion or Golf Tournament and be accommodated, as long as you are humble enough and show enough enthusiasm!

Big Ten Champions:

1. Laura Loht - Javelin  PSU is Javelin U
2. Kara Millhouse - 10000M  2 in a row
3. Mens 4 x 400M Relay  Dominated
4. Brady Gehret - 400M  Big PR, Olympic Trials Qualifier
5. Casimir Loxsom - 800M  3 in a row
6. Joe Kovacs - Shot Put  #1 College and #8 in the World

In honor of the Champions, here's a video of a laser setting a World Record.

"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

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...

Big Ten Championships

Shavon Greaves in the 200 M and the 4 X 400 Relay squad of Greaves, Doris Anyanwu, Ijeoma Iheoma and Megan Duncan captured individual Big Ten Championships at the Indoor meet.  Caitlin Lane placed second in the mile with her PR.  The Women's Team placed second overall.

On the Men's side, Joe Kovacs uncorked a monster shot put to win the event, his first.  His heave was the second longest in PSU history.  Ryan Foster won his third consecutive 800 M title.  Both Brady Gehret and Cas Loxsom snagged second places, as the men placed 6th in the Big Ten.

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?