A Fine Time or 2 in Beantown!

Sonjah Hinish ran the Boston Marathon in a fine time of  3:19:16!  Congrats. And if she ran in those clogs, I'm doubly impressed!!!

 And Doreen Startare McCoubrie again defies time to finish second in her age group with a great time of 3:13:56!

And via Doreen, Marta Klebe also turned in a great time of 3:26.52!

Get Your Conversion Calculators Out Again!

Marta Klebe just broke the 31 year -old school record in the 1500M at the Big Ten Championships this weekend.

The previous holder of the record is our very own Doreen (Startare) McCoubrie, who happens to be in charge of the Mid-Atlantic USATF division.  (With her help, we will soon have our first Penn State Alumni team member, Alumni Singlet Father Dennis Pollow, toe the line in the 50K Trail Championships.)

Marta's time in the 1500M was 4:15.20.  Using the various calculators out there, that converts to a mile time of between 4:34 and 4:35.62.*

*The preferred conversion.

Dolan Duels a Great Warm Up

Yesterday, the Nits started the XC season in fine style at Lock Haven at the Dolan Duels.  Our Tennessee connection Dick Geiger reminds me that Jim Dolan was the Freshman Coach at PSU when a "slow" skinny kid from near Reading made his way to Happy Valley.  Jim moved on to Lock Haven at some point and became the Legend that he is. The "slow" kid also made a name for himself despite Coach Groves admitting he would have never recruited him.  Head Coach John Lucas must have seen something others didn't!

Dick Geiger also reminds me that 1965 Spring Grove High School classmate David Mosebrook went on to star at Lock Haven. David also lives in Dover, where I am from. Dick, David and a few others had been the first team from York County to win the PIAA XC crown. I remember them because my dad was a track official back then.  Dave is a track official til this day.  I see him at numerous meets every year.

Yesterday, at the opening race of the season, the Women's team swept the first five places on the 4K course with Marta Klebe taking the overall crown.

Photo by Dave Beyerle.

Robbie Creese took the victory in the Men's 6K race with a Course Record 17:29.  Both teams came away with the team victory.

Photo by Dave Beyerle.

"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)