I'm Ready For More Abuse: Rankings Of The All-Time Indoor Alumni Records

As the third job I have in this current busy climate, this blog has a very good reputation for inaccuracy, mistakes and overall "I have to look that up".  I take abuse on just about everything I post, but posts involving statistics bring it from every corner of the world. So as an introduction to these marks, please update me on any inaccuraccies, mistakes or "I have to look that up".

Here are the tops marks for Penn State Mens Track Alumni Records from all-time as per the IAAF Scoring Tables.  These were compiled by Matt Grove from Coach Groves' notes and amended by all of us over time.  Undoubtedly, there are mistakes.  But that gives us all an opportunityy to get together in a collegial fashion and have a little fun along the way.   Hee hee hee

1.  600M          1226        1:14.91                         Casimir Loxsom '13                  2017 (WB)
2.  Shot Put      1209        70' 5.5" (21.47M)         Joe Kovacs '12                          2014
3.  800M          1196        1:46.13                         Casimir Loxsom '13                  2017
4.  Mile            1181        3:56.06                         Brannon Kidder '16                   2018
5.  1500M        1168        3:39.17                         Brannon Kidder '16                   2018
6.  60M HH     1137        7.70                              Mike Shine '76                           1978
7.  5000M        1117        13:39.27                       James Carney '01                       2005
8.  2 Mile         1107        8:35.0                           George Malley '77                     1979
9. Heptathlon   1099       5827 pts.                       Ryan Olkowski '02                    2005
10. 200M           1096       21.25                             Ryan Olkowski '02                    2003
11. TJ                1082        53' 2.75" (16.22M)       Ricardo Hall                              1995
12. HJ                1081       7' 2.25" (2.19M)            Dave Kriz '96                            1999
13. 1000M         1079       2:22.66                          Randy Moore '85                       1986
14. LJ                1073        25' 3.25" (7.7M)           Rob Boulware '87                      1988
15. 60M            1059        6.77                               Mike Shine '76                           1978
16. PV               1056        17' 2" (5.23M)             Rick Kleban '85                          1988
17. 55M            1056        6.1*  (6.34)                  Barney Ewell '42                        1947 (WR)
18. 55M            1056        6.1*  (6.34)                  Mike Sands '75                           1980
19. 300M            995         34.5                             Mike Sands '75                           1976

* 0.24 secs added to hand times as per IAAF standards.

This Palindrome May Be Penn Relay's Best Record!

Yesterday was 7/11/17.  And that's 71117 both frontward and backward!  So I decided to steal Steve Shisler's Facebook post yesterday to highlight the significance of the event.

It is also the Penn Relay's 4 x 800M Collegiate Record by the Penn State quartet of Vance Watson, Steve Shisler, Randy Moore and Chris Mills.  7:11.17  The record is now 32 years old. Maybe the last time Coach Groves cried too!

Here are a few other remembrances of the relay victory in 1985:

"The Race" 1

"The Race" 2

"The Race" 3

Holiday Season Includes Happy Cat Herders Day! Who Knew?

 Be sure to vote in the first Semi-Final of the Performance of the Year on the left sidebar of the full web-site! 3 days left before the second appears!!

 

Someone sent me a link the other day to wish me a Happy Cat Herders Day!  Thanks!

 

 

 

Randy Moore originally coined the moniker for my efforts to entice all Penn State Track and Field Alumni to the Reunion and Coach Groves Golf Tourney created by Clark Haley in 2002.  And it is certainly an apt title.  Here's to hoping all of you help entice others to this year's event held in conjunction with the Big Ten Outdoor Championships.

 

 And following the holidays, my movie will be available in DVD format!  Get your copy at Walmart.  Or you can order a copy via Amazon now.  Be sure to look for my first appearance ever on the Big Silver Screen in the credits at the end!

 

 

 

PLAN 9 releases on physical media! The long awaited day has finally come. Plan 9 will be released JAN 5th, 2017 in 2600 Walmart stores. But if you wanna get it early Amazon has it available NOW!!!

To get a your copy via Amazon here is the link (https://www.amazon.com/Plan-9-Brian-Krause/dp/B01INNMZVM/ref=sr_1_3?s=movies-tv&ie=UTF8&qid=1481784288&sr=1-3&keywords=plan+9) .

The Disc will be loaded with extra features including…

• Commentary Track - Director and cast discuss the film.

• Criswell Predicts. 5 Episodes of a web series that leads up to the first scene of the film.

• Plan 9: Super 8 - DP shots behind the scenes on a Super 8 camera

• Film Competition - Two shorts hosted by the real John Johnson.

• Teaser Trailer - shot two years before the film was made.Be sure to look for 800U's very own Steve Black in this Teaser Trailer!

• Bloopers & Outtakes

• Mini Doc - short interviews with the cast from the film.

Coach Groves Gets Some All-American Visits During Olympics Time

In addition to the daily visit from our own All-American Course Monitor Greg Fredericks, Coach Groves also received some additional visits from several others while enjoying some fine Olympics Track and Field Action this weekend.

Here Coach shows off our group's highest honor, The Rusty Boot, to Steve Balkey and Steve Shisler, among others.  Bob Hudson was also around.

Fill me in on who the others are!

News from Steve Balkey, always right on top of things:  That's David McMillen, center, a formidable 1500M to 10K runner from South Africa, and Randy Moore, right!  I was ashamed to not recognize Randy, but I haven't seen him in quite a while.  Wonder if he remembers that great Christmas Party in Center City Philly we had in 1984-1985 or so?  And I'll bet he doesn't recognize me either!

And Phil Caraher and family made the long trip from North Carolina to see Coach.

Phil Caraher with a new T-Shirt!

But that wasn't all for Phil, as he apparently went golfing with Coach Bill Whittaker.  I have always said that it just isn't fair practicing for the next Coach Groves Tournament!

Where 800U All Began

Coach Groves' very first Championship of America at Penn Relays was the 1983 4 x 800M race.  I have talked about it before, but now I have some extra great photos to go with it.

I was actually in the front row directly opposite the start/finish line, which was a tremendous vantage point to see it all!  And apparently Tom Shiffer was very near me.  Because he took a bunch of photos of all of the runners, and dug them out after the Reunion and sent them my way.  Thus, all of us can enjoy them for posterity.

That's Paul McLaughlin, Randy Moore, Mike Cook and Kenny Wynn in all their glory.  John Marshall and  Marcus O'Sullivan also appear in the pics.  Our Blog Laureate and others will pipe in with more on our Facebook site...

All photos courtesy of Tom Shiffer. Keep them coming Tom!

This is also the race where my future wife was standing next to Coach Groves in the stands, as he was not in his usual place beneath the clock.  He related he was too nervous and headed into the stands.  When they finished and began their victory lap, Barb saw Coach actually crying real tears.  He asked her to never tell anyone, which lasted as long as it took to for her to find me at the front row.  When Coach tells people that Championships of America victories mean more to him than Olympic ones, he really does mean it.  That statement alone made George Steinbrenner once write a check to the Penn Relays for $1 Million!  True story (for once on our blog!)

Still Another First Hand Account Of "The Race"

We have had previous remembrances of The Race before, from Randy Moore and Steve Shisler. Here's another remembrance of that specific race from David Zeiters, who had just finished his Sprint Medley race and was with Coach Groves along the wall.  Dave even managed to take some pics of the aftermath with one of those old-fashioned film cameras the kids today know nothing about!  Thanks for letting me steal all of this to make the blog with it all more complete!

Vance Watson, Steve Shisler and Chris Mills.

I'm actually in this pic in the first row near the orange guy!

Vance Watson and Randy Moore. "Give me that baton!"

"Thirty years ago today, I saw one of the greatest track events in my life when the Penn State men’s 4x 800m relay team won at the 1985 Penn Relays with the best time in the world that year! A smoking 7:11.17!I had just finished my 200m leg in the Sprint Medley relay race, grabbed my sweats, and rushed back out to the track to watch the highly anticipated men’s 4x800m relay race. We all knew we had great 800m runners and it would be a good race. I ended up standing on top of the back of a bench leaning up against the north brick wall next to Coach Groves. I remember Coach with his Spiked Shoe ball cap on had his notebook and stop watch ready to call out the splits. Vance Watson was our first leg and started the race. I remember Coach yelling, “let’s go Vance!” After a great first leg, Vance handed the baton off to Steve Shisler in first place. As Steve rounded the first turn in front of us Coach yelled “beat’m to the curve Steve!” Steve ran a blazing second leg and handed off the baton still in first place to our young freshman stud, Chris Mills. All the while Coach is barking out split times for Judy or Joe to write down. Chris just went out and ran probably his best 800m split of the year. Chris finished a strong leg and handed off to our All-American 800m runner, Randy Moore. Then it happened. It was one of those perfect runs you maybe see a few times in your lifetime. Randy busted out an unbelievable 800! As he fought off the Georgetown runner on the last lap down the straight a way we were screaming our lungs out until he crossed the finish line in first place. I looked over to Coach and he had this elated amazed look on his face and said, “my God he ran a 1:45.”As the four guys started their victory lap, I grabbed my camera and snapped some pictures as they jogged past us. I was standing by Coach and remember Vance yelling over to him, “Coach we did it!” I saw Coach have a tear in his eyes and a smile from ear to ear. I have never seen Coach happier. Thirty years ago today."

 
-David Zeiters.

The Cream Of The Crop: Penn State At The Penn Relays

From the vast Penn Relays web site, here are the most celebrated Nittany Lions of all-time:

Elaine Sobansky, 1984.

"The Race", 1985.

Casimir Loxsom, Athlete of the Meet 2013.

Horace Ashenfelter with Horace the Golden Putter.

Barney Ewell.

Lee Talbot, PSU 1909.

Alan Helffrich

"Anchored the Penn State 2-Mile Relay team to a world record at the Penn Relays in 1923."

Wall of Fame Inductees 2000 1985 4×800m Relay Vance Watson, Steve Shisler, Chris Mills, Randy Moore 2007 Lee Talbott (1910) 2008 Elaine Sobansky (1984)
Olympic Gold Medalists participating at the Penn Relays 1920 Antwerp Larry Shields  3000 Team 1924 Paris Alan Helffrich  4x400 1948 London Barney Ewell  4x100 1952 Helsinki Horace Ashenfelter  SC
Athletes of the Meet 2013 CM-R Casimir Loxsom

"The Race" Was 30 Years Ago

 "We made Harry cry"

-Randy Moore.

There's a great article in the Philadelphia Inquirer about our 1985 4x800M Relay Championship of America victory at the Penn Relays.  They really did a wonderful job, and we helped just a little bit here at the blog with it all.

Two were walk-ons, two were from the local high school!

Penn Relays record still intact for Penn State foursome 30 years later

The photo is from Walt Chadwick's vast stash.  And Walt does have extensive ties to our group from multiple angles.  Randy Moore's recollections of the event in the article come from an exclusive essay he provided to me for use on the blog.  It was a well written, humble and enlightening piece of prose from the most elusive of the 4. You need to read it all.

Other aspects of our blog were used for background also.  Be sure to check out all our previous posts on the topic.

Don't forget, you can still get your "PSU is 800U" t-shirts in the group store.  This single item both inspires and pisses off all the right people.

More 80's Pics Sigh....

One of these guys is John Jon McKay, a former hammer thrower. But which one?

Addendum: Greg Reyner and Todd Leggett report that John Jon McKay is the middle cheerleader, second from the left.  Thanks to Judy Lynn Weaver for the correct spelling of Jon's name.


Gregg Garrity was on my dorm floor with Alan Scharsu and Don Skerpon.  There was always something happening in his room, but I don't think any of it was studying!  Gregg would have made a very fine PSU Trackster, as he was very, very fast.  In his Senior year he caught around 51 passes with 50 of them for first down or touchdown.  This was his last college catch.

Names people, I need names.

Addendum:  Tom Shiffer and Hugh Hamill respond!   1986 I believe is Mark Overheim, Dave Coney, and Steve Shisler. 1985 looks like Rick Kleban and Randy Moore. (Here at the blog with it all, we use more sources than the Rolling Stone!)

Dave Masgay mid-leap.

.

Quaint handout from the years before the Internet! That's Randy Moore on the bottom, isn't it?

Hugh and Tom:   1985 looks like Rick Kleban and Randy Moore.

All photos from Greg Reyner.

More Coach Jackson Horner Goodness With Strong PSU Track Alumni Ties

I especially like Coach Horner's pants...  Takes me back to smiling memories.  I once fell off a pair of platform shoes when I tripped on my bell-bottoms.

This is a photo of the 1978 PIAA Cross Country Champions.  Note the PSU Track Alumni (Golfers) connections here.

Without help, I identify Coach Horner (1950's PSU captain), Nick K. (who still is running fast miles!), Dan Draper (where is he now?), Randy Moore (of 7:11.17 4 x 800 fame!), Brian Mount (our W & M connection and honorary Track Alumni Golfer), Bob Hudson (still with ginger locks!) and last but not least, Hugh Hamill (my foursome partner at last year's tourney!)

Others include John Dixon, John Coyle and Steve Phillips.

Thats's (Sort Of) How You Run A 1000

 1000 Metres – Men

1 Kszczot , Adam POL 2:15.72

2 Aman , Mohammed ETH 2:15.75

3 Lewandowski , Marcin POL 2:15.79

4 Rotich , Ferguson Cheruiyot KEN 2:16.88

5 Musagala , Ronald UGA 2:17.11

6 Hathat , Yassine ALG 2:17.15

7 Bett , Reuben KEN 2:17.98

8 Olivier , André RSA 2:18.11

9 Kitum , Timothy KEN 2:18.33

10 Robinson , Paul IRL 2:18.46

11 Loxsom , Casimir USA 2:19.16

12 Chemut , Anthony KEN 2:19.55

Som , Bram NED DNF

Ok so maybe Cas Loxsom was hoping to place better at the 2014 Memorial Van Damme in Brussels, Belgium. The last Diamond League meeting featured a 1000 meter race with some of the years top mid-distance runners, despite it not counting towards League standings. Cas at least was able to find a silver lining in his performance.

8 second PR!!!! ...for second to last. That's what happens when you line up with the best in the world! What an great experience #moretocome
— CasimirLoxsom(@cazzylox) September 5, 2014

Not only was it a PR but it also a new Alumni Record as he bettered the 2:19.72 run by Randy Moore in 1986. Certainly a successful first pro season for Cas with a good foundation to build on. Two years till Rio.



Meanwhile, back stateside, Owen Dawson took 3rd place at Teri's Run 5k in Downingtown, PA. His time was 15:02.

 





Fast Times From State College High

See what I did there? har har. Disclaimer: I will be tooting my own horn in this post.

The connections between State College Area High School (800 High) and Penn State (800 U) are staggering. Start with our own Steve Shisler coaching the current of record breaking high schoolers.

I am proud to say my alma mater has a new school record in the 4x800 meter relay (I was on the old record setting team). Their time of 7:57.49, run this past weekend at the Kevin Dare High School Invitational, broke our 8:01.50 from the Indoor State Meet my senior year. The time we beat was 8:02.4* and had two future Penn Staters in Nick K. and Bob Hudson. By the way my high school also produced Randy Moore and Chris Mills. 800 High indeed. Oh and by the way again, future 800 U representative William Cather broke his own school record in the open 800 with a 1:54.05. He will be attending Penn State next year and will continue the tradition of State College distance talent to run for Penn State.

*Was probably run on a flat 160 yard hybrid basketball court/track instead the banked 200 meter mondo surface we have now.

Nittany Lion Challenge Recap

Another fine showcase at the Nittany Lion Challenge.

I am going with co-performance of the meet honors. Bernard Bennett-Green with his break though 400 (46.61 and 4th fastest in the NCAA this season) and Robby Creese winning the 1000 in a US leading time of 2:20.65.

In my meet preview I mentioned that the 1000 meter run has been a showcase event for this meet and it certainly didn't disappoint on Saturday. Robby used his trademark bell lap speed to pull away from the field. Winning with a big kick should be referred to as a Creese Lightning. Although my prediction of a new alumni record did not come to fruition. Owen Dawson came close clocking a 2:22.94 for 4th place and .28 seconds behind Randy Moore's 2:22.66 from 1986.



Event 13  Men 1000 Meter Run
===============================================================
    Facility: F 2:19.53  2012        Robby Creese, P S U      
         PSU: P 2:19.53  2012        Robby Creese             
        Meet: M 2:19.53  2012        Robby Creese, Penn State 
    Name                    Year School                  Finals
===============================================================
Finals                                                        
  1 Creese, Robby             JR Penn State             2:20.65
  2 Bile, Ahmed               SO Georgetown             2:21.42
  3 Ledder, Billy             JR Georgetown             2:21.77
  4 Dawson, Owen                 Unattached             2:22.94
  5 Peavey, Bobby             SR Georgetown             2:23.87
  6 Dillenbeck, Alex          JR Iowa State             2:25.96
  7 Sorensen, Dylan           SR Georgetown             2:26.54
  8 Gioielli, Joseph          SO Iowa State             2:27.33
  9 Baldwin, Alec             SO Iowa State             2:27.52
10 Reher, Michael            JR Georgetown             2:28.46
11 Seitzer, Dominik          FR Ohio State             2:28.98
12 Kinnare, Kieran           JR Cornell                2:30.79
13 Castelli, Tyler           SO Pittsburgh             2:31.90
14 Dawson, Kyle                 Unattached             2:32.95
-- Zingsheim, Zach           FR Georgetown                 DNF

Kyle Dawson, looking to work on his finishing speed, ran the 1000 after pacing 7th in the mile with a 4:18.43. He will be back in the 3000 meters in two weeks at the Penn State National.

Down in Houston Tyler McCandless started his 2014 with a PR at the USA Half Marathon Championships, part of the Aramco Houston Half Marathon and Chevron Houston Marathon. Tyler tweeted his thoughts on his run. (Officially 17th in 1:03.25)

1:03:21 at the USA Half Marathon Champs! Just 5s off my pr but three minutes faster than this same weekend in 2013. Hell of a start to 2014!
— Tyler McCandless (@TrackTy) January 19, 2014

Back In Action

Some people recover quicker than others and that is certainly the case for Kyle Dawson and Owen Dawson. Now it's no secret that these guys are endurance monsters but some of us who raced last weekend haven't left the ice bath yet.

All kidding aside The Nittany Lion Challenge is tomorrow at the Horace Ashenfelter III Indoor Track and both Dawson's are entered in the 1000 with Kyle doubling in the mile (heat sheets and schedule). Kyle, who is preparing for a fast 3K at the Penn State National, will be getting some quality speed work while Owen is racing in the meets showcase event. Ryan Foster ran a then school record in the 2010 edition only to see his 2:19.60 bested by Robby Creese in 2012 with a 2:19.53 (which happens to be the collegiate record). Owen split a 1:51 800 last weekend and I wouldn't be surprised to see a new indoor alumni record* tomorrow (currently held by Randy Moore at 2:22.66).

Last thing before moving on from last weekend is reading Bernard Bennett-Green's thoughts on the Penn State Indoor Relays in his official team blog.

*Speaking of records the Penn State Indoor Relays 4x800 meter relay meet record, of which I ran on, survived for another year. It's really all I got from my time in college besides some piece paper with a few top administrators signatures on it.

The Authoriatative* PSU Mens Alumni Indoor Records

Also compiled by Matt Groves from original sources (mostly his dad) and put into an Excel spreadsheet, translated into a pdf, sent to me via email  and then made into another Excel Spreadsheet, poorly manipulated and then posted in the blog that "gets everything wrong".

*Authoritative is meant as a bit of a joke, as was Definitive in a previous post.  Everyone (most) know that I'm an authority on things other than PSU Track Records and Excel.  Unfortunately, those with more knowledge about these things are hard to find and motivate to participate. We get corrections and admonitions all the time about things we have gotten wrong.  We welcome them.**  That's kind of the whole point of trying to generate interest in joining our group to honor Coach Groves along with the past and future of PSU Track/XC. Remember the mirth, and you can skip the golf.

** Small, caffeinated and poo-flinging monkeys are currently hard at work correcting the PSU Mens Alumni Road Race Records.  Another set of horrible monkeys is being recruited right now to correct these Indoor marks and the upcoming Outdoor marks.***

***Scorn and admonitions can be directed at me for any errors in accuracy, formatting and just general disdain at the effort.  I'm getting used to it.
 

Distance	Mark	Individual, Team	Year
55 meters	6.1	Barney Ewell '42	1947
"	6.1	Mike Sands '75	1980
60 meters	6.77	Mike Shine '76	1978
200 meters	21.25	Ryan Olkowski '02	2003
300 meters	34.5	Mike Sands '75	1976
400 meters	47.5	Mike Sands '75	1976
500 meters	1:03.9	Mike Sands '75	1976
800 meters	1:51.0	Randy Moore ' 85	1986
1000 meters	2:22.66	Randy Moore ' 85	1986
1500 meters	3:42.3	Larry Managn '81	1982
One mile	4:03.7	Greg Fredericks '72	1975
3000 meters	8:08.7	Greg Fredericks '72	1979
Two mile	8:35.0	'77	1979
5000 meters	13:39.27	James Carney '01	2005
60 meter HH	7.70	Mike Shine '76	1978
DMR	9:48.59	Owen Dawson '12, Kevin Fuller ' 10,	2012
		Ryan Foster ' 11, Brian Fuller ' 09
High Jump	7' 2 1/4"	Dave Kriz '96	1999
Long Jump	25' 3 1/4"	Rob Boulware '87	1988
Triple Jump	53' 2 3/4" (16.22m)	Ricardo Hall	1995
Pole Vault	17' 2"	Rick Kleban '85	1988
35 lb weight	65' 0"	Alvin Jackson '77	1980
Shot Put	70' 4 1/4" (21.44m)	C.J. Hunter '90	1999
Pentathlon	3909 pts.	Jamie Cook ' 97	2002
Heptathlon	5827 pts.	Ryan Olkowski '02	2005