Virtual Penn Relays And A Big Announcement

Got this from Matt Groves and Harry Smith via the internetty thingie.  Check it out.  You can join the team or just watch.  That's almost exactly like real life!  Be careful if you sit in the 2nd turn (And THERE ARE ONLY 2 TURNS ON A TRACK, EVERONE) stands, that's where the virtual Jamaicans and Virtual Fraternities sit!

Virtual Penn Relays

Participation Form Here

And in news that really isn't news, the 19th Annual Track/XC Reunion and Coach Groves Golf Tourney have been canceled.  I know everyone was assuming that anyway, but Clark Haley, with advice from the other idiot Officers of the group officially pulled the plug this weekend.

 

Let's Update The PSU Indoor Alumni Record Book!

We already did the Outdoor List, where we identified some changes to be made, so now let's all get together and do the same for the Indoor List.  Let us know via the comments below or via the Facebook Page of any changes that need to be made.  And thanks again to Matt Groves for digging up and compiling this listing from his father's notes.

A Lull In The Action Means Housecleaning Commences

With not much happening in the Track World, it is time to do a little Spring cleaning, even if it is a little late.  So let's all get to work and crowdsource an updated Penn State Track Alumni Record Book!  Sorry ladies, I don't even know how to begin compiling one for the women.  Maybe an ambitious member of our group will try!!!!    Hint, hint!

But at least we have a starting point for the Men's Records which includes Indoor, Outdoor and Road records.  Matt Groves has done much of the legwork from his dad's notes in the past.  We are certain that our listing needs updating, and that's where you come in.  If we all get together on this we can fully update the listings in no time.

Let's start with the Men's Outdoor List:  Any changes can be made via the Facebook Page or on the comments below.  Please help!

Our first update to the list doesn't change the record, but clarifies it.

(George)Malley's AR was NOT the 8:21.72 you have listed. Henry Marsh had the AR at the time (1978) and it was 8:21.55...Malley's AR was in 1977 at the AAU National Championships at Westwood, CA at 8:22.54.

Coach Artie Gilkes Gets A Double

The State College Boys team won the PIAA Class 3A team title yesterday at Seth Grove Stadium in Shippensburg.  They exceeded their expected point total with 47 overall points.

That makes Coach Artie Gilkes the State Champion Indoor and Outdoor Coach of 2019!  Needless to say, Artie has the team believing and performing at their optimum level.  Those of us who know him best, saw this coming.  Having a mentor like Coach Groves and the support of the "soon-to-be largest and most active track alumni group in the world" gives great dividends.  Artie is aided by several other PSU Track Alumni (Golfers) including Chris Cipro, Tom Kleban, Matt Groves and Nick K.

The story of the 41st and title-clinching point shows what Artie brings to the table for the athletes he is charged with mentoring.  There are numerous future Nittany Lions coming through his tutelage. Congrats Artie.

Each Point Counts

The Rest Of The Story

We have already covered the news of St. Joseph Academy's victory in the PIAA A Cross Country Girls Championships.  Coached by Jayson Jackson and Matt Groves, the Lady Wolves also had the overall winner in Sera Mazza.

And it turns out that the team had an extra motivation for performing well.  Coach Jackson's newborn infant Ophelia was hospitalized due to respiratory issues due to her premature birth in the weeks leading up to the State Meet.  I am no stranger to the issue of premature birth.  Daughter the Elder came 9 1/2 weeks early and spent her first 6 weeks in the ICU.  She is currently in her PSU Junior year studying wildlife and fishery science.  Hang in there Jayson!

Jayson Jackson, top left, Matt Groves, bottom left.

"Running For Ophelia"

If The Election Doesn't Destroy Us, Maybe CERN Will: (With State College XC Accolades)

The election is thankfully over today.  And while I believe this is the dawn of a new era in the USA, those doomsday forecasters prophesying the coming of SMOD (Smoking Meteor of Death) were wrong, so maybe the Large Hadron Collider in the Swiss/French alps may have to come to their rescue.

An act of Physicists?

A bizarre conspiracy theory has it that the latest plasma blasting experiment at the CERN facility is causing the spike in significant earthquakes in Italy.  The original experiments before the power was turned up failed to manufacture the proposed black holes, so earthquakes will have to do for those determined to see the world end.

And hats off for the State College High girls team led by Rebecca Donaghue and Artie Gilkes who placed 4th in the AAA XC Championships.

Special accolades to Jayson Jackson's and Matt Groves' St. Joseph Academy girls team, PIAA A XC Champions!

Diamonds (are a) Girls, Best Friend(s)

Joe Kovacs added to his haul of awards this year with the Diamond League Championship in the Shot Put Competition.  "Hey Joe, where are you going with that trophy in your hand..."

The Womens Team won the Coach Harry Groves Spiked Shoe Invitational in State College against some higher ranked competition.   They were paced by race winner, Tori Gerlach.

The Mens Team performed well, placing third behind Syracuse and Michigan. Ean DiSilvio placed 7th to lead the Lions.

The PSU Alumni Team placed 5th in the team competition with Brian Fuller leading the way in 22nd place.  Others on the team were Joey Walls, Mark Fuller, Kevin Fuller, Chris Cipro and co-blogger Matt Groves.  Casimir Loxsom acted as coach, trainer and captain for the squad.  Thanks for representing the rest of us sloths!

Cas Loxsom, Kevin Fuller, Mark Fuller, Brian Fuller, Chris Cipro, Matt Groves and Joey Walls.

I missed the meet as I was in Pittsburgh for my daughter's PSUAC race in McKeesport.  It turns out 2 of her best friends and high school teammates were also there.  ( running for University of Pitt Johnstown, Mt. Aloysius College and Penn State Mont Alto.)

Marta, Lauren and Daughter the Elder representing York Suburban High.

Head's Up For The Coach's Reception! And Another PSU Track Alumni Golfer At XC Nationals

I have been remiss in promoting the Coach's Reception for Coach Teri Jordan and Coach Harry Groves that will occur following the Sykes-Sabock Challenge on Saturday February 7th at 6:30PM to 8:30PM.  This will be an Italian buffet with an open bar.  Right down any Alumni Golfers alley!


Please RSVP by emailing Will Rottler back at wdr13@psu.edu with the number that will be attending. 

Co-blogger Matt Groves, Coach Jordan, Coach Groves, and Dan Jordan.

 After finally coming across the photo of John Evans at the recent USATF XC Club Nationals, another PSU Track Alumni Golfer has emerged!  Apparently there was a mix-up after the race which made the Masters results unavailable for awhile, and I missed people.  Michael Gross also laced them up at the race for the Greater Philadelphia Track Club.  While this earned him praise from me and a little envy, he falls short on a Platinum Membership only because he didn't have an Alumni Singlet!  That means he will continue to pay the same dues he always has for membership in the group ($0 annually) in perpetuity.

Michael Gross in another Michael Scott photo!

  

If you know of others, please alert us!

Co-Blogger Becomes a Very Sweet Professional

Apparently, ex-PSU-800M man Matt Groves has successfully made the transition to the half-marathon.  He won the Hershey Half-Marathon with a negative split! And he not only won cash, he won chocolate too.  And that's just in time to beat the coming rise in chocolate prices due to the West African Ebola crisis.  Congrats Matt!

Happy Birthday Co-Blogger!

I've been waiting for an opportunity to use this gif and I figure that Matt Groves' 27th birthday might as well be it.  Can that really be true?  Twenty-seven?  Where has all the time gone?

Seriously though, I appreciate all that Matt has done to help add to this site.  And I look forward to much more.  Make sure you all wish him a nice day.  If he can make it to the Penn State National next week I'll bring cake.

Some Excellent July 4th Fireworks

There were PSU Track Alumni (Golfers) in action all over yesterday highlighted by the great performances at The Peachtree Road Race in Atlanta.

Kara (Milhouse) Foster, left, 9th in Women's Elite.

$1250 for 6.2 miles!

Tyler McCandless, 8th in Elite Mens. (PRs at 5K and 10K)

$1500 for 29 minutes work.

Dawson Inc. at the Philly Zoo.

CoBlogger Matt Groves, at places unknown!

Director of Fun Teddy Quinn at the Firecracker 5K.

Dennis Pollow in Bergen NY.

And I'm finally home from West Virginia...

The Newly Anointed Alumni Golfer

For those of you who may not have met me yet, I am the new guy. My name is Nick Scarpello, and I am honored to join the ranks of this highly esteemed group of track & field alumni golfers. Of course, to get to this point, I had to first go through a very important vetting process. And so fellow alumni golfer David Baskwill invited me to meet him on the White Course’s ninth green at 9 o’clock for my first test. I actually have some footage from the meeting.

After the necessary newbie pranking was over with, David got into the hard interview questions. First, I had to tell David that I've never won a free game in mini-golf. No extra benefits: still eligible.  Next, I had with me a titanium driver and demonstrated for him that I do in fact have a slice worse than Charles Barkley.

Bad golfer:  check.

Next I reached into the back pocket of my golf slacks and pulled out printed race results from last week's Henderson Distance Carnival.

This may confirm the rumors you have heard. In my first post-collegiate race, I was indeed defeated by not one, but two, high school runners. Therefore I officially enter into that generation of athletes complaining about new generations getting faster each and every year. Take note also of fellow alumnus Owen Dawson in eighth.

From left:  Kyle Dawson, Me, Owen Dawson,
and PSUT&F rising senior Glen Burkhardt.
May 31, 2014. Henderson Distance Carnival.

Overly-enthusiastic runner:  check.

I had David convinced. But just to be safe, we did Rusty Boots and the bond was sealed.

So that sequence of events is basically what brought me here today. That, along with a passion for running, a sincere desire to help in connecting the Penn State T&F family worldwide, and a firm belief that there is something special about our community. Just the fact that a Penn State T&F Alumnus whom I have NEVER met, David, (the story told above is completely fabricated) has invited me to contribute to this blog, and to do it with the help of a teammate and friend (Matt Groves) I think speaks volumes about what it means to be a Penn Stater. So thank you, David.

My goal here will be to help all present and future alumni golfers to recognize and appreciate the closeness of the Penn State Track & Field family, and to take pride in knowing that you…yes, YOU… are a valued part of this tradition. Whether you were a mid-pack fighter or an All-American, you are, and always will be, Penn State. And we are proud of you.

On another note, the team’s NCAA travel group should be touching down in Portland right about now. The championship action for Penn State starts this Wednesday, June 11, with Melissa Kurzdorfer in the Hammer at 4:30 p.m. EST. Mahagony Jones will be the first Nittany Lion on the track: she runs in the 100-meter semifinals on Wednesday at 8:45 p.m. EST.

Here is TV/broadcast info for the weekend:

Wednesday:  6:55 p.m. EST on ESPN3

Thursday:  6:55 p.m. EST on ESPN3

Friday:  7:30 p.m. EST on ESPNU

Saturday:  5:00 p.m. EST on ESPNU 

Fifth Place in Our Golf Tourney Brings No Shame Even When Dressed Inappropriately

Matt Groves, Drew Hardyk and the pajama-clad Kevin Kelly O'Brien.

The 5th place trio (+6) somehow managed to beat my foursome and Harry Smith's foursome with one golfer (Matt Groves) playing despite a stress fracture (and against doctor's order!) and another pseudo-golfer wearing pajama-bottoms made for a young boy.  The fact that the pajama bottoms were a big step up from last year's attire meant nobody raised a stink at all.  I hear next year Kelly O'Brien will be wearing something Corporal Klinger wore on the M*A*S*H set 30 years ago.  But that may just be a rumor.

Coach Hardyk must have played lights-out to attain the score he did, essentially a 77 by himself with 2 irritating caddies! (just kidding guys! I've taken a little flak for sounding a little cruel here. Sorry. Just having fun.)

The "Extra" Prizes From the 2014 Coach Groves Tourney

It has been Clark Haley's wish since the very first tourney to honor as many people as possible.  So with that in mind, we have several "extra" prizes awarded every year.

• The Longest Trip:  Dave D'Zurilla made it to Happy Valley all the way from St. Paul, Minnesota.  He's been back to State College several times but had not seen many of us (and vice versa!) for 30 years or so.  Thanks go to Chief Laundry and Morale Officer Larry Mangan for reconnecting us.
• Shot of the Day: Owen Dawson managed to recreate Munya Maraire's feat of hitting his tee shot backward.  Well done Owen, well done.
• Ghostman Award: This prize goes out to the "one" who returns after a lengthy absence to reconnect with the rest of us reprobates.  This year, the prize was divided up between Dave. D'Zurilla, Howie Triebold and Hugh Hamill.  It was especially good to entice Howie and Hugh AND to be able to golf with both this year.  They have been loyal readers and contributors to the blog.  It's as if we have been friends our entire lives. Which is kinda sorta what this group is all about! They have info on the origins of "Rusty Boots" I have been searching for a very long time.
• Numbnut Award:  This goes for a bonehead move that others happen to see and point out.  We've all done them, but sometimes no one see them and reports them.  This year the prize goes to Matt Groves for golfing despite having a sacral stress fracture.  Which leads to...
• The "Rob Whiteside" Brotherhood Award:  This goes to someone who golfs with us for the camaraderie despite having no talent for it or great excuses to avoid it.  Matt Groves takes the title this year for soldiering on despite pain and potential harm.  Well done Matt.  What do doctors know anyway...?

It's a Shame the Big Announcement Comes With a Fatwa

I had a nice meeting with Co-Blogger Matt Groves yesterday for dinner as thanks for helping me with the content of the blog.  During a steak meal (at a Seafood Joint no less!) I announced to Matt that I am making him a full-fledged Administrator of the blog!  I figure he has proven his assets and served enough of a internship to deserve "the big time". The Reunion Weekend is a great time for the announcement.  Be sure to thank him for his efforts when you see him.

His first duties will be to get the Alumni Records fully updated and posted on the sidebar.  This will guarantee scorn and conniptions across the fruited plain, but we'll do our best to bring a semblance of accuracy to the endeavor.

When Matt first came to me (yeah, that's right, he came to me!  No stalking necessary!) and asked to help with the blog content, I was thrilled.  Readership is up, as are submissions of news and items of interest.  Our mutual goals of a vibrant and far-reaching organization promoting the past, present and future of PSU Track are on track.

The only downside, we are aware, is the fatwa against us.  But we will pay that no mind.  Any help our members and readers provide us with that will be appreciated.

Welcome to the wonderful world of blogging, Matt!

Bread, Milk, Eggs and Toilet Paper

We all know what that shopping list means.  Snow Day!  And that means 2 vigorous sessions on the treadmill for me today.

You can't find kids to shovel nowadays.

This will give me a chance to prepare and steel myself for the second Podcast, The Rock and Roll One.

Here's some photos by our In-House Photographer Mark Hawkins of the First Podcast Session in the Lounge overlooking the Horace Ashenfelter III Indoor Track.

Co-Blogger Matt Groves was overdressed!

Coach Groves was in tip-top shape.

We had to edit that one! And is my hair as gray as Coach's?

The secret is to be well prepared and have top-notch gear!

Greg Fredericks puts emphasis on a finer point of miling.

The First Podcast: The Sub-4 One

I think I have everything in a suitable form and have learned a lot along the way.  An old dog CAN learn new tricks.  By no means is it perfect, but it's better than some others I have listened to.  And it stars Coach Groves and Greg Fredericks. It is 35 minutes long, but ones in the future should be between 20 and 30 minutes.

The music is by permission from our House Band, the Velveteen Playboys with PSU high jump record holder Paul Souza.  The sax solo at the end is by Robert Gay.  If you haven't heard them yet, you are in for a treat.  Paul will be our guest for the next podcast to discuss his 18 year coaching career, rock and roll, and the upcoming Track and Field/Rock and Roll tour coming this Outdoor Season.  We'll hear more of them next time!

I can't thank them enough, as well as Matt Groves, who somehow shares my vision for the blog and what we can accomplish with it.  When I say I want the largest and most active Track and Field Alumni Group in the world, I mean it.  In discussions with others during the weekend, I am even more convinced that in all the phases of my life, PSU Track Alums are the most interesting, accomplished, and intelligent people I have ever met.  Each of us has more in common with even alumni from PSU Track from decades apart than we do with many of our peers outside of Track.  Except for maybe the tattoos...

Hope you enjoy it.



Penn State Track and Field Alumni Golf by David Foster Baskwill is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
Based on a work at http://psutafalumnigolf.blogspot.com.

Alumni Cross Country Lives Here...

With the "old" alums 8th place finish USATF Masters 5K XC Championships and the "young" alums vicotry at the Penn State National. I am one proud Penn State Track Alumnus right now. One step closer to world domination. Much belated results from Friday.

PLACE TEAM                POINTS  PLACES OF FINISHERS            AVG. TIME SPREAD

1 P S U Alum               19    1    2    3    5    8   33   35    26:24    1:00
2 Lock Haven               52    4    9   11   12   16   17   18    27:23    1:23
3 Detroit Mercy            64    6    7   13   15   23   24   25    27:26    1:20
4 St. Francis (Pa )       113   14   20   21   28   30   36         28:14    1:06
5 Robert Morris           114   10   22   26   27   29   31   32    28:14    1:09
6 Bloomsburg              167   19   34   37   38   39   40   41    29:32    2:12

1. P S U Alum
    1  Kyle Dawson                25:53    4:59
    2  Owen Dawson                26:03    5:00
    3  Sam Masters                26:26    5:05
    5  Vince McNally              26:43    5:08
    8  Brian Fuller               26:53    5:10
   33  Matt Groves                29:32    5:41
   35  Kevin Fuller               29:45    5:43
Total Time = 2:11:58     Total Places = 19


 

Penn State Track Alumni Golfers Rule the World

Well, the Penn State National Invitational, at least.  Slowly but surely, the world will be ours! (And don't call me Shirley...)

I'll let Matt fill us in with more details later, but I had to mention the victory by "the young alums". The "old alums" are next in New Jersey!...

Kevin Fuller, Sam Masters, Brian Fuller, Matt Groves, Owen Dawson, Kyle Dawson and Vince McNally.

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.