Ricky West Makes My Day!

Photo by Tim O'Dowd.

Yea, that's a Penn State Track Alumni Bracelet on his wrist while qualifying for the NCAA 800 M Semi-finals in Eugene next week.

I told him I would celebrate anyone who wears a "PSU is 800 U" version in competition and I meant every word.  It was a pleasure to meet him and other team members at the Alumni /Team Reception last week.  It is really heartening to know that there is a lot of Nittany Lion Pride in every one of them.

I'll mail you one of the wrist bands (with a copy of the old ones if you need them!) if you donate to the group on the right sidebar.  All of that money (minus the 3% PayPal fee)* will go to the Coach Harry Groves Scholarship and I'll foot the bill for shipping to you!  That's a deal everyone can get behind.

* this small print isn't really that bad now, is it?

Eugene Bound! And More 800 M Silliness

So far, eight Nittany Lions are into next week's NCAA Championships.  There is even one day left to go in the Prelims, including the Mens 1500 M and the Women's Javelin. As I had hoped, three of the qualifiers will travel to Oregon for the 800 M!

1. Melissa Kurzdorfer in the Discus.
2. Melissa Kurzdorfer in the Hammer!
3. Michael Shuey in the Javelin.
4. Mahogany Jones in the 100 M.
5. Mahogany Jones in the 200 M!
6. Kiah Seymour in the 400 M Hurdles.
7. Natalie Bower in the 3000 M SC.
8. Casimir Loxsom in the 800 M.
9. Brannon Kidder in the 800 M.
10. Ricky West in the 800 M.

And speaking of 800 M, here's former 2-lapper Steve Black's latest episode in his Web Series, The Grave Diggers! 

Another Week of 800's and More

Mt. Sac Relays are a good warm up for Penn!

1. Casimir Loxsom   1:46.77

2. Brannon Kidder    1:47.23

3. Ricky West           1:48.49

4. Ryan Brennan       1:49.32

5. Za'Von Watkins    1:50.18

And Sam Masters broke 14:00 in the 5000 M as the first Nittany Lion to do it since Steve Brown in 1989. (13:57.33)

PSU is 800 U : All Levels Edition

PSU athletes had 5 of the top 6 places at the Crimson Tide Invitational  in the 800 M yesterday with Brannon Kidder and several others setting PRs in their first effort of the season.

1.  Brannon Kidder   1:47.71

2.  Robbie Creese      1:48.98

4.  Ricky West           1:49.46

5.  Ryan Brennan       1:49.49

6.  Za'Von Watkins    1:49.50

And in addition to winning the National Championships in the 4 x 800 M, at the Club Championships the Nittany Lions also had 3 of the top 8 in the Open 800 M.  The Mens Team won the National Championship and the Women took Second.  Check it all out here.  

1.  Joey Walls             1:56.54

2.  RC McLaughlin    1:57.96

8.  Matt Doutt             2:00.77

PSU is 800 U: 4 of 8 Lanes in the Big Ten Finals

That's without Casimir Loxsom running the 800 M! Top 2 in heats and 2 additional.

1. Za'Von Walkins  1:49.26 Heat win.
2. Ryan Brennan  1:49.42 second.
3. Brannon Kidder  1:49.73 Heat win.
4. Ricky West  1:49.89 by time

Cas will be running the 600 M with Alex Shisler.

PSU is 800 U: Millrose Edition

On an "off week" the Nittany Lion quartet of Brannon Kidder, Casimir Loxsom, Za'Von Watkins and Ricky West (with Ryan Brennan as the alternate) bettered both the Millrose Games and Armory Facility Records in the 4 x 800 M Relay. Their 7:21.37 exactly ties the Indoor Penn State Record of the quartet of Steve Balkey, Dave McMillan, Chris Mills and Ray Levitre set in 1987.

Zavon Watkins 1:51.1
Brannon Kidder 1:51.6
Ricky West 1:50.1
Casimir Loxsom 1:48.8

                        Watch more video of 2013 Millrose Games on flotrack.org
                    

A Long Way to Run: And More Singlets in Action

photo by Mark Hawkins

Dennis Pollow traveled all the way from Arizona, where he goes to Grad School to compete in the Invitational heat of the Mile at the Penn State National.  Looking good the whole time in his Alumni Singlet.  (Orders will begin for the next shipment of Alumni Singlets next week.)

And here's the promised photos of the Fuller Bros. rabbiting the big races!

  photo by Mark Hawkins. 

Brian Fuller! With Owen Dawson in close pursuit.

photo by Mark Hawkins.

Kevin Fuller!  That's Ricky West in third and Za'Von Watkins in 4th. PSU is 800 U.

PSU is 800 U

As I'm still trapped like a rat in Or-Line-do, our intrepid documentarian Larry Mangan had the opportunity to watch the Nittany Lion Challenge meet with Coach Groves. He brings us this exclusive photo of the finish of the 800 M with Casimir Loxsom running the fastest collegiate Indoor race in nearly 6 years (1:46.98) followed closely by Freshman Brannon Kidder (1:48.17).

Nearly as impressive was the 1000M race with Ricky West winning in 2:21.95 followed by Freshman Za'Von Watkins in 2:22.02 and Ryan Brennan in 2:23.14.  Let's face it, the 1000M is just an 800M where they forget to stop in time!

PSU is 800 U. Spread the word.