End Of Year Rankings Include Many Nittany Lions

Our Data Procurement Specialist has again done yeoman's work and scoured the latest Track and Field News Rankings to highlight the Nittany Lion Men (Women will be coming next!) shining in the latest year.  He asked me to double-check his work (He must have been giggling when he wrote that. I'm pretty sure he knows me well enough by now to realize that ain't happening.!)  Needless to say, I trust his work.  And if he's missed a few, I know there are other Nittany Lions out there to amend the list.   It was really a very good year. Besides, he always gets his T&F News way before I do!

800 M

Loxom #5 US rank; #5 US time 1:45.80

Kidder #29 US time 1:47.45i

Cas Loxsom was ranked #4 in the 800 on LetsRun.com's middle/long distance end of year rankings also.

4. Cas Loxsom • Brooks Beasts • 23 years old • 1:45.80 sb (#6 in US) • 2nd at USA Outdoors
Championship results: 2nd USA outdoors, 3rd USA indoors semis
After running 1:45.28 and finishing sixth at USAs at age 20 in 2011, Loxsom seemed poised for greatness. But he stagnated over the next two years, failing to make a U.S. final or improve on his pb. He didn’t set a pb in 2014 either, but he won some races and didn’t just make a U.S. final — he placed second (though we won’t know how high he would have been without the fall). To be a factor at USAs next year, Loxsom will have to build on his success in 2014. With a new training partner in Seattle in Symmonds, that seems possible.

1000 M

Loxom #3 US time 2:19.16

Creese #8 US time 2:20.65i

1500 M

Kidder #22 US time 3:38.82 (PSU record)

Mile

Kidder #34 US time 3:58.49i

400H

Robinson =#31 US time 50.75

Marathon/Half Marathon

McCandless  #18 US time 2:15.26/McCandless #18 US time 63.25

HJ

Hendershot #41 US height 7-2.5i

SP (PSU is SP U???)

Kovacs #3 World, #2 US Rank; #2 World/#2 US distance – 72-3.5

Whiting #4 World, #3 US Rank; #1 World/#1 US distance – 72-11.25i

Hill #36 World, #11 US distance – 67-6

JT

Shuey #10 US distance 249-5 (PSU record)

Relays

4x800 #11 US 7:18.99

SMR  #5 US 3:18.39

DMR #1 US 9:26.59i (PSU record)

I Am Thankful For All the People I Have Had the Pleasure to Meet in My Capacity as Web-Site Idiot

Dennis Hendershot, one-time Holder of the Golden Putter and father of Jon Hendershot acted as our Official NCAA Indoor Championships Corespondent. Jon jumped 7' 0.5" at the championships for a 10th place finish.  I congratulate both of them as representatives of the very best Penn State Track and Field Golfers can aspire to.  Here's his observations from the weekend...

Lupita Nyong’o, on accepting her Oscar for Best Supporting Actress, ,said the following in her speech - “It doesn’t escape me for one moment that so much joy in my life is due to so much pain in someone else’s.” While Nyong’o’s thoughts in saying that go far deeper than the realm of sports, it did provide for me the backdrop for what impacted me the most while watching most all of what happened at the NCAA’s in Albuquerque this past weekend.

The emotions of the sport. The pure joy of reaching a personal best on the big stage, and the sheer disappointment of not meeting your own or others expectations. “The thrill of victory; the agony of defeat” - someone’s thrill is someone else’s agony - and often they happen in the same moment. It is with those thoughts that I reflect on the emotions that I captured during the two day event. My snapshots of the weekend:

-           The camaraderie I witnessed in several events, most notably the men’s high jump and pole vault, where the competitors embraced each other during the event and shared each others successes and failures, even as they were vying with each other to be better at their expense.

-           Perhaps the most poignant moment of the last night - the unbridled exhilaration of the Oregon women’s 4x400 relay team at coming from behind at the tape to win over Texas by 2/100th of a second, overcoming a 5-½ point deficit n the team standings, and in so doing to capture from Texas the Women’s team championship by ½ point; the entire Oregon contingent rushed the infield and had to be restrained by officials, while next to all this the heart wrenching pain of all 4 Texas runners who would not be consoled while laying on the infield after the race.

-           The anger of the Texas A&M men’s 4x400 3rd leg at being intentionally pushed out of the race on the third turn by the Florida runner, and the near altercation that ensued on the tarmac after the leg finished, officials breaking them apart before possibly coming to blows.

-           The delight of James Harris having won the men’s high jump and getting 3 attempts of a record height of 7’9-½”; the deep, deep disappointment of James Harris after tripping himself in the final turns while in the lead of his heat of the 400 meter finals, disqualifying himself from any possibility of double medals.

-           The joy of the PSU women’s 4x400 team, who trailed by as much as 10-15 meters for most of the race, and even a bit more at the beginning of the final leg, and saw Kia Seymour erase that deficit in the final half lap to out-lean the leader at the tape to win, and set a new PSU record.

-           The dismay by all of us who don’t live in Eugene, to have to watch the highly under girded Oregon track program (not sure they do the field part) win both team championships. I am sure Phil is very happy.

-           My own pleasure at watching Penn State’s Yvonne Britton course her way through the Women’s Pentathlon to a very respectable 7th place finish, with an ease and a smile that were indeed infectious

-           And, of course, the excitement of two dudes who took full advantage of the trip to Albuquerque, to fulfill one of their life’s passions (tongue in cheek) and visit the ‘house’ of Walter White.

Woah. I can’t believe I started with Lupita Nyong’o, and closed it out with Walter White.

All-American Honors

Congratulations are in order for the All-American honors earned this past weekend at the NCAA Indoor Championships.

          First Team All-American:
          Will Barr                35 lb weight throw 
          Mahagony Jones   200 meter dash       
          Brittney Howell     pentathlon, 4x400 meter relay             
          Steve Waithe          triple jump            
          Kiah Seymour       400 meter dash, 4x400 meter relay  
          Za'von Watkins     800 meter run
          Dynasty McGee     4x400 meter relay
          Tichina Rhodes     4x400 meter relay    

          Second Team All-American:
          Evonne Britton      60 meter hurdles
          Jon Hendershot     high jump
          Wade Endress       distance medley relay
          Za'von Watkins    distance medley relay
          Brannon Kidder   800 meter run, distance medley relay
          Robby Creese        distance medley relay

        

It's Big Ten Week!

New School Record Holder Jon Hendershot

There are some really good things to watch at this week's Big Ten Championships on the Men's side.  They have a strong presence in the Middle Distances, of course, but there are some strengths present all around.  The Shot Put and Discus and Javelin are areas of optimism, as is the horizontal jumps.  PSU is well represented in these areas.  And we won't forget the vertical jump, as Jon Hendershot set a school record last week at 7' 3.25". I wish I had enough leisure time to venture to Ohio to watch, but alas, the bacon is harder and harder to bring home nowadays!

I'll be checking up on the activities throughout the weekend though.  Good Luck Lions.

Some PSU Track Alumni Happenings at the Opening Meet!

First up, Jon Hendershot won the high jump with a leap of 7 feet 1/2 inch!  Jon is the son of Holder of the Golden Putter Dennis Hendershot.  Good opening effort, Jon.

Next, Matt Groves placed 4th in the Open 1000 M event (2:36.38).  A distance I have never run, and one I'm glad I didn't.  Matt then joined The Dawson twins and Kevin Fuller for 4th place in the Distance Medley (10:01;07).  Turns out it was the Dawsons and the Fullers in the DM (Owen, Kyle, Brian and Kevin).

And, oh yeah, the Mens 4 x 200 team ran the 5th fastest collegiate time ever! (1:25.52).

What Other Penn State Track Alumni Golfers Are Up To This Summer

Brian Fuller (and probably all 30 or so Fullers in our Group!) is preparing for the 1,000 Mile Relay to benefit the Kevin Dare Back On Track Scholarship.  Let's get behind all 10 of them.  And Teddy Quinn makes 11!



Blake Eaton continues training in Happy Valley despite the lack of a PSU Track Alumni Singlet!  Efforts are underway to get him one.  I should also let him know that we have hats available at our very own Store too.  But I'm afraid he'll pound me to a pulp if I tell him that anyone buying that hat he's wearing gets a free bowl of soup.

Jon Hendershot traveled to Chicago for some studio work on his new album.  What is it with these PSU high-jumpers and musical talent?  And that's Megan Anderson showing him around Chicago.

Golden Putter Brings Record to Holder!

Horace the Golden Putter is the prize for the longest putt on the 18th Green at the Coach Harry Groves Golf Tournament every year.  The winner gets the use of the gilded implement for the whole year.*

This year Dennis Hendershot was the (lucky?) recipient.  He is the father of PSU's vertical specialist Jon Hendershot.  Dennis happens to be left-handed, a situation I had never expected when I purchased the beauty.  Hence, Dennis thought he would never actually get to use it.**

BUT, then he had something miraculous happen!

He was finishing his greatest round ever***, and was able to "turn the other cheek" as it were and use the putter to sink the penultimate gimmee to seal his personal record!

* Except for Jeff Sanden who actually held the Golden Putter for 15 total seconds.  Sorry, Jeff.
** See above.
*** Details available only for donations of $100 or more on the right side bar! (Your secret is safe with me, Dennis!)

Photo Caption Contest

What in the World is Jon Hendershot doing in this photo from the Penn Relays?  A secret agent supplied us with this photo, but even he doesn't know.  Give us your best shot in the comments.

Wow!

In his first ever college race, Freshman Robbie Creese bided his time in the first half of his 1000 M race and then just turned on the gas. He never let up until the tape and then the fun began. His 2:19.53 was obviously better than Clothing Engineer Ryan Foster's School Record. But then it was also the facility record and the event record. As if that wasn't enough, it bettered Alan Webb's 2006 Junior Record. (Robbie won't turn 19 until August!) After additional checking it turns out his effort is the Indoor 1000 M Collegiate Record! This bettered a former 2008 Olympian's previous record, (Christian Smith).  Wow!

There were other signs of a big season upcoming from the Nittany Lions:

1. Caitlin Lane - School Record 1000 M  - 2:44.24.
2. Casimir Loxsom - School Record 600 M - 1:16.66.
3. Jane Swenson's second straight home victory in the shot put - 47' 7".
4. Will Barr's second straight home victory in the 35 lb weight throw - 60' 11.5" (approximately 60 ' further than I could ever throw it!) And this article on Will comes from Blog Laureate Larry Mangan.  We are trying to come up with a different title for Larry. which should be finalized following the Penn State National.)
5. Hanif Johnson- Triple Jump of 51' 4.25" (third in the nation!)
6. Jon Hendershot - another 7' clearance in the high jump.

I apologize for missing so many other worthy efforts!  I can't wait to see the Nits at the Penn State National!

High Jump Leads Blue-White Meet

Jon Hendershot impressed the crowd at the season's first meet at the Horace Ashenfelter III Indoor Complex this past weekend.  His jump of 7 feet 1.5 inches is an early season mark that should turn some heads. Jon is from Nazareth PA, a place I am quite familiar with from my childhood. I wonder if Jon ever had a Jimmy's Hot Dog from Easton?

There were many more impressive results, but I wanted to give a shout out to Jon that the Alumni are aware and behind the current athletes as never before.  Other results can be scanned Here!  There are 4 more indoor meets this season at PSU.  I hope to be at the Penn State National at the end of January.  Check out the schedule of meets at the convenient Rusty Boots web site.