It Was A Hot Time In LA Yesterday

A warm weather marathon can be miserable.  And a first marathon is almost always a miserable experience. My very first came the day after the State HS XC meet and I was totally untrained and tired.  My great 20 mile run in 2:25 pace was spoiled by my 2:56 finish! 

Four Nittany Lions and a Group Friend ran the Olympic Trials Marathon  (and Women HERE) yesterday through the streets of Los Angeles. Four loops with sharp turns and a substantial number of first-timers in the race made this a unique race.

Both Tyler McCandless and Nick Hilton failed to finish in the heat and both were near the front more than half-way through.  Tyler went for broke and led for 6 or 7 miles and reported being chilled despite no longer sweating after 20 miles. At least 61 men dropped out!

Matt Fischer, in what I think was his first marathon, finished first for the Lion contingent in 2:25:34 in 43rd place.

Kyle Dawson, also in his first foray into the event, finished in 2:37:36 in 89th place.

The top Lion was Elizabeth Herndon who finished in 2:45:32 and in 40th place. She has earned another post-race beer!

The television coverage of the event was poor, the streaming options abysmal and the difficulty of getting full results from the USATF nearly impossible.  Still, any 4 from our group with a keg of beer could run things better and with more fairness. And with the continued antagonism (whether warranted or not) by 4th place finisher Kara Goucher to Nike Inc., maybe we haven't heard the last of this race.

"Breakthroughs don't happen without taking a risk. Today I took a risk but a breakthrough didn't happen. I dropped out at mile 20 when I felt I had chills but wasn't sweating anymore. The marathon is humbling, but the incredible support from friends and family is more humbling. Thank you all and I'll be back and striding towards new goals again soon."  -Tyler McCandless.

2016 US Olympic Marathon Trials

Three Four former Nittany Lions will be lacing em up tomorrow at the 2016 US Olympic Marathon Trials

Name              Affiliation     Status     Decalation

Kyle Dawson

qualified

declared

Matt Fischer

Boston Athletic Association

qualified

declared

Tyler McCandless Boulder Harriers qualified declared
Complete entry list .

The men's and woman's races will be broadcast live on NBC beginning at 1:00 p.m. ET. If you are like me and want to watch multiple sports at once you can stream the event online via NBC Sports Live Extra (the Live Extra app required to watch on a mobile device).

Another great way to follow the entire Trials experience is to check in on the Tyler McCandless social media empire. Which should be in full force over the weekend.

Edit: Elizabeth Herndon is a declared entrant in the women's race. Competing for Cleveland Elite Development.

This Makes At Least Three In The Olympic Marathon Trials

In a jammed finish, Kyle Dawson finished his Half Marathon in 1:04:35 to qualify for the upcoming Olympic Trials.  Congrats Kyle!  Tyler McCandless will also be there.  Are there any others?

Kyle got in touch and points out that Matt Fischer will also be lacing up his racers for the Olympic Trials!

Kyle Dawson, in green.

Just Because Indoor Season Has Started, We Shouldn't Forget About Cross Country Yet!

The Penn State Team had its first of the year Indoor Meet, the Blue-White Warmup Meet before Finals and heading home for the holidays.  But there still were some Penn State Alumni running over hill and dale  at the USATF Club Cross Country Championships in San Francisco.  Bridget Franek placed 16th in the Womens 6K in 20:31.  Matt Fischer and Nick Scarpello ran fine races in 40th and 50th place in the Mens 10K.  Casimir Loxsom ran with his Brooks Beast team in a fine tune up for his upcoming Olympic push.

Bridget Franek, 16th.

Cas Loxsom, rear.

275

Casimir Loxsom

24

M

BROOKS Beasts TC-A

34:07

(10K) 5:30

40

Matt Fischer

23

M

Boston Athletic Association-A

30:37

(10K) 4:56

50

Nicholas Scarpello

23

M

Prado Racing Team-A

30:53

(10K) 4:59

16

Bridget Franek

28

F

Team Run Eugene-A

20:31

(6K) 5:31

Distance Runners Get PSU Off To Good Start At Big Ten Championships

That's a headline I have not been able to use in the 7 or so years of the blog with it all.  I enjoyed writing it today.

The 3000M was a good start for both the Men and Women at the first day of the Big Ten meet at the Spire Institute in Ohio.  With wins in both the Shot Put and the Distance Medley, the Men are in second place entering the penultimate Saturday finish. The Women are tied for fourth.

W 3000 M:      3  Tori Gerlach             9:17.39
                        4  Elizabeth Chikotas   9:21.62

M 3000M:       1  Robby Creese           8:10.75
                        6  Matt Fischer             8:14.13

M Shot Put:     1  Darrell Hill               66'  6"

M Distance Medley: (Jordan Makins, Alex Shisler, Za'Von Watkins, Brannon Kidder) 1  9:40.62

Brannon Kidder, Photo by Jim McClelland.

                         

Nearly an Alumni Singlet

It really wasn't Matt Fischer's day at the 2014 NCAA XC Championships on Saturday in Terre Haute.  I have no doubt that there was something amiss, as he started every bit as well as planned.  And he looked resplendent in his "old school"  singlet, which is eerily reminiscent to our Alumni Singlets!  (I think Matt already owns an Alumni Singlet, but I may be wrong.)  Apparently, the emblem where the graduation year is is a Big Ten emblem on this shirt.

Matt Fischer.  Photo by Michael Scott.

And speaking of Alumni Singlets:  They are at the printers this week, after a flurry of last minute orders came to our attention.  You all will soon be wearing yours with pride!

Some Real Photos For Once! From The Wings Of A Gator (or something)

Mark Hawkins made it to the NCAA Regional Meet at PSU last week and brings us many, many photos to peruse on his Facebook site.  I've selected a few to highlight on the blog with it all.

Here's the aforementioned Gator.  Notice all the smiling blokes (are Aussies blokes too?).  They are smiling because they will alll be inside the Gator's warm cocoon while Mark sits in the back working his shutter!

Here's a smattering of Nittany Lions captured by the CMOS (or is it CCD?) of Mark's behemoth.

Ean Disilvio.

Matt Fischer.

Wade Endress.

Austin Pondel and Tony Russel.

Glen Burkhardt.

All photos by Mark Hawkins.

Matt Fischer Receives Accolades

Senior Matt Fischer's punishing kick left the competitors behind at the Mid-Atlantic NCAA Regionals last Friday at the Blue/White Course.  That propelled him to the first place finish and the Mid-Atlantic Athlete of the Year Award.  (And let's not forget Dan Mazzocco's similar performance in 2003 this time!)

A Healthy Attendance By PSU Track Alumni Golfers

The road is still uphill for the Nittany Lion men to make the NCAA XC Finals via an at-large bid, but it was a great season none-the-less.  The team improved with every single race and the future is quite bright. Coach Gondak has to be very pleased.

I couldn't make it to the race, but was there in spirit.  In the mean time, plenty of our brethren were there in force to see the men finish third in the team competition, edging Princeton by 1 point!  A highlight was seeing Matt Fischer win the race overall. I think Matt already has an Alumni Singlet at the ready!

Tim Backenstose, Owen Dawson, Greg Fredericks, Coach Bill Whittaker, Coach Groves, Larry Mangan, Roger Roll and Mark Hawkins get ready for the meet. There are stories about the bear I need to hear!

Matt Fischer takes the win.

Best Ever B1G Finish For Men (Tied with 2000 finish)

"If you're better than the Big Ten, then you're a professional," ·

 "The competition is so awesome, you'll crap in your pants." 

"There are no gifts in the Big Ten. You have to earn every point and every place."

-Coach Harry R. Groves, on the competition in the Big Ten

The Penn State Men placed third in the Big Ten XC Championships in Iowa City, Iowa today.  The duo of Matt Fischer and Glen Burkhardt provided the important team lead with their 8th and 11th place finishes.  Wade Endress (19), Tony Russel (25) and Robby Creese (29) rounded out the scoring.  They also had the best spread of all teams with 27.5 seconds!

Ean Disilvio (49), Brannon Kidder (78), Bobby Hill (88), and Austin Pondel (93) also ran well.

Our congrats to Coach John Gondak and the entire team. (I include those who didn't make the trip as well. The importance of everyone involved is a big part of our Alumni efforts.  We really understand the commitment, dedication and hard work that all of this entails.) With 8 of the 9 runners able to compete next year, things are looking up for the Nittany Lions.

   Mens 8k

Fall Sports Media Day

Penn State's Fall Sports Media Day took place yesterday. I'm thinking next year we need to get some press credentials for this. Nothing say's a blog is legit like attending and asking questions at a press conference

Full transcript from GoPSUSports

Laurel Run Road

Matt Fischer, Katie Rodden, Leigha Anderson, and Coach John Gondak give some insight on how both teams look after summer training

That's Laurel Run Road the team is running on. The run starts at the Tussey Mountain Ski "Resort" and finishes at Whipple Dam State Park. If I did what I should have done over the summer it was a cruise. If I didn't it was a straight up death march as the pace always got hot after reaching the top and making the long steady descent to Whipple.

Distance Efforts On the West Coast

2012 Performance of the Year Winner Bridget Franek returned to the track after a semi-break learning and studying in graduate school.  She appears to not have missed a step as she won her opening 3000 M Steeplechase at the Oregon Relays at Hayward Field  in a Meet Record 9:56.72.

 

PSU's Tori Gerlach and Matt Fischer also traveled to the Mt. San Antonio College Relays in Walnut, California.

20th  Matt Fischer   5000M      14:09.97

11th  Tori Gerlach   300M SC    10:30.07

                    

Fifteen Hundred Mania

It seems everybody was placed into the 1500M this week for

the Nittany Lions.With some pretty good results at the 

Bucknell Invitational. 

1 Brannon Kidder SO    3:42.99*

2 Owen Dawson(Alumni)  3:43.61

5 Wade Endress   JR    3:45.33

6 Za'Von Watkins SO    3:45.79

9 Matt Fischer   JR    3:46.95 

22  Nick Scarpello  SR  3:51.79 

And I have received word that Owen Dawson and his brother  

Kyle Dawson will be lining up with the rest of the Alumni 

rabble at the Coach Groves Golf Tourney in May.  Be sure 

to join us for the worm burning and all the other 

festivities!

*4:00.54 Mile by the Reigel method  t2 = t1 * (d2 / d1)1.06

I Can't Believe XC is Over!

Matt Fischer was 78th in 31:06 at the NCAA Championships in a muddy, chilly Indiana.

The lone Lion stays warm before the start.

Not sure if these are shoes or not?

The Women placed 25th as a team.

Fischer Fourth at Mid-Atlantic Pre-Nats: Lady Lions Also Third

Matt Fischer again led the race for a significant portion and finished fourth for the Nittany Lions.  The Men finished fifth overall with 3 Freshman chipping in.

The ladies (am I allowed to say that?) finished third and are projected to make the Nationals, although the official announcement won't come until 3:00PM today.

All-Region Finishers and Coach Gondak and Coach Sullivan.

PSU Lady Lions in the lead early.

The race was also the last XC race for Senior Nick Scarpello, who was third for the Men. He sums it up quite well.

Thanks everyone, to my mom and dad, and to Steve and bill and Ian for coming to my last race, and all my other friends and family and teammates who helped me through these last six cross country seasons. It went by way too fast and I will miss it a ton- I'll especially miss the nerves of the start line and that fire in the legs with 1000 meters to go. XC is the best season- a sport that made me feel overwhelmingly weak and yet immensely powerful all in the same moment, battling through the grass, dirt and mud with teammates. Feel so blessed to have ended it on a high note. Kicked it home with all I had. Thanks to those who supported me through it. Best of luck to Fischer, Leigha, and Marta (and the rest of the ladies if they qualify) at nationals. Kick a**, State!

I hated to tell him that things actually start to accelerate after college!  But I think he can handle it.

Connor Quinn and Nick Scarpello. Photo by Sally Smith Pondel.

Wade Endress, Nick Scarpello, Austin Pondel and Connor Quinn. Photo from Sally Smith Pondel.

I'm an Idiot Most of the Time

With Matt Fischer's 3rd place finish at the Big Ten XC Championsips, it was again pointed out how much of an idiot I can be.

Rusty Boots.

The finest ever performance by a PSU Mens team member at the championships was presaged by an article published by the PSU Program several weeks ago.  Tyler Ferguson's article pointed out that Matt was continuing the "Rusty Boots" tradition that dates back to the earliest days of Coach Groves' tenure (and even before!).

I must point out that the article was in the queue for linkage on the blog until other things came up and I let it slip.  Thus pointing out my idiocy again.  Thanks to Bob Hudson for reminding me of the article. Thanks for looking out for me.  I'll take Bob's advice to change the name of the blog to "Rusty Boots" under advisement.  Maybe I'll make it an sub-headline???

And remember, there are a few "Rusty Boots" items available in the Group Store!

B1G XC Championships

The Women finished 4th as a team.  The Mens team finished 9th, but Matt Fischer thrilled all Lions everywhere when he led the race through 7K and finished 3rd overall.  Congrats to Matt and "the girls".

Matt Fischer with Coach Sullivan. Photo from Nick Scarpello.

Matt leading the race. Photo from Nick Scarpello.

Penn State National Preview

Here are your Penn State Alumni runners who will be towing the line tomorrow on the Blue/White Golf Course at the Penn State National.

Sam Masters - Says he if he "holds 5 minute pace it will be a really really good day." On October 5 he won the Nittany Lion Invitational hosted by the Club XC team in 25:29.79. Which is 5:08 pace.

Kyle Dawson - Recently mixing it up in the Downingtown road running scene with a 2nd place finish at Teri's Run 5K (14:26) on September 6 and a victory the following day at the Quad X Invitational open 5K (15:40).

Owen Dawson - Back to back 3rd place finishes at Teri's Run in 14:28 and 15:57 at Quad X in early September. 

Vince McNally - Finally back in shape after a long layoff with a 3rd place showing at the City of Pittsburgh Great Race 10K in 30:29 on September 29. Also came in 5th behind Kyle and Owen at Teri's Run with a time of 14:34. Despite that defeat McNally is confident the longer distance and terrain will be in his favor. "I'll beat Owen on Friday," said Vince "I should be slightly fitter than I was (on September 6) and 5.2 (miles) should wear down the sub-four minute miler."

Brain Fuller - The older of the Fuller brothers claimed first place on the runways at Washington-Dulles International Airport with a 15:16 at the Dulles Day 5K on September 14. Two weeks later he posted a 30:52 at Penns Woods Trail 10K.

Kevin Fuller - Better known for his middle-distance prowess and rabbiting world class times. The younger Fuller took 7th at the Dulles Day 5K in 16:59.

Matt Groves - Ran 1:16:25 at the ultra fast Rock n Roll Philadelphia Half-Marathon on September 25.

Unfortunately Chris Cipro will not be able to race. Despite being recovered from his marathon last weekend he cannot get out of teaching duties for the day.

In other news it is great to see current varsity team member Matt Fischer keeping the "Rusty Boots" tradition alive. We wish Fsicher and his teammates well as they will be competing at the Pre-National Invitational in Terre-Haute, IN this weekend.

Nearly an Elite 8!

Matt Fischer (just left of center) toes the line.  Photo by Nick Scarpello.

I notice things.  Sometimes I pick up on a meme before others.  Sometimes, it's even significant when I do.  I picked up on this meme several years ago and have trumpeted it before.

Penn State Track and Field Athletes continue to improve during their careers as well as any athletes in any College in the Nation.

Sometimes there are athletes like me who start out with humble talent, and sometimes there are athletes with unbelievable talent.  But invariably,  PSU Track athletes attain their ultimate potential under the current coaching staff as well as anywhere in the US.  Hats off to everyone.

Yesterday, the distance corps demonstrated this on a grand scale at the Stanford Invitational.  All seven (one short of eight, get it?) attained a PR on their first performance of the outdoor season. My congrats to everyone.

1. Matt Fischer   14:01.23  5000 M
2. Tyler Corkedale  14:20.06  5000 M
3. Nick Scarpello  14:23.08  5000 M
4. Natalie Bower  16:12.88  5000 M
5. Tori Gerlach  16:28.51  5000 M
6. Emily Giannotti  34:54.26  10000 M
7. Abbie Benson  10:33.30  3000 M SC

And the real Elite 8 has decimated Montgomery Baskwill's early round prognostication performance.  He's now just an also-ran.  I notice only a couple of Track Alumni Golfers in the top echelon with Zeb Stewart garnering a current 6th place in Ken Cooper's annual pool. Group friend Ron "Bile" Ferguson also seems to be in a drivers seat of sorts, still having his winner in the final eight.

1	12	Rupe, Mark	65
2	(1)	Riter, Christie	64
3	0	Sailer, Aaron	63
4	26	McCarthy, Dennis	63
5	4	Ferguson, Ron	62
6	44	Stewart, Zeb	62
7	3	Angelo, Peter	62
8	4	Radzwich, Claudia	61
9	5	Cardenas, Milton	61
10	5	Dubya, G	61
11	5	Oppenheimer, Hank	61
12	6	Tate, Andy	61
13	49	Cooper, Kevin (2)	60
14	(12)	Cooper, Kyle	60
15	10	Golic, Mike	60
16	54	Wintersteen, Kyle	59
17	10	Sailer, Jackson	59
18	59	Morse, Willie	59
19	(15)	Cooper, Kyle 2	59
20	16	Obama, Barack	59
21	16	Cooper, Kathleen	58
22	20	Smith, Holden	58
23	(17)	Roth, Andy	58
24	62	Jones, Darryl	58