While I Was Away

Some of you may note by the relative lack of posting lately that I have been away for my annual vacation to West Virginia, the land of no internet.  Well, bad internet anyway.  I barely tried this year.  Here is some pics of my 2 dogs who went on the trip and got to hike the Appalachian Trail and the C&O Canal Trail.

Pooky checks out the cool Shenandoah River after a hike.

Harpers Ferry From Virginia.

Pooky and Spott after hiking 10 miles.

But others were even more active:

• Fawn Dorr placed 2nd in the Canadian Track Championships in the 400M Hurdles in 56.52
• Penn State was well represented in the Brentwood Firecracker 5K (Pittsburgh) (Thanks to our Chief Laundry and Morale Officer)

1. Mark Fuller  was 9th in 16:31
2. Scott Munro was 10th in 16:40
3. Natalie Bower was 37th in 18:12
4. Mark Hawkins was 65th in 19:22 (2nd in age group)
5. Don Ziter was there too, but I can't find his results.

An Expanding Group and Help Wanted!

I've received submissions from all kinds of sources lately.  I have to say, I'm really pleased.  If I've dropped the ball on any of them, I'm sorry.  My day job is really starting to interfere with my blogging.

First up, we already know that Tessa Barrett, a future Nittany Lion won the Footlocker National XC Championship last weekend. Also in the race was Regan Rome from Dallas PA, daughter of PSU Track Alumni (Golfer) Amy Aston Rome. She finished 28th.

Scott Munro sends me word on Chris Pruitt, Class of 2004, who happens to still be burning up the roads in Suburban DC.

And just today, several people have sent me word on an Academic Highlight from one of our own.  Jonathan Pritchard has been honored as one of eight PSU Scientists with the Outstanding Science Alumni Award!  I have taken it on myself to add him to next year's Performance of the Year Awards for that.

Remember to vote in the Semi-Finals for the 2013 Performance of the Year.  The second round is a close one to see three more advance to the finals.  You mobile lurkers are being outed again.  Come to the full web site and vote on the left side-bar.  "It don't cost nuthin."

And I'm looking for some help in creating our group's very first podcast.  I'm looking for someone who has some knowledge on the subject to contact me for some advice.  The rewards will be great.

Lions and Tigers and One Bear

The Women Lions won the Crimson Tide Invitational in Tuscaloosa and the Men placed third. The Missouri Tigers were there too. Our man in the field Larry Mangan found some time before the Javelin competition to bring us a delightful photo of Paul "Bear" Bryant's bust with a little added PSU Track Alumni Wrist Band!  Yeah, you heard that right, Larry Mangan watched the javelin competition where his daughter Olivia Mangan threw a PR.

Paul "Bear" Bryant gets a dose of PSU Track Alumni goodness.

I'm more interested in finding out how the barbeque was in a place I've never been!



In other news, Tyler McCandless traveled to the nation's capital for the Cherry Blossom 10 Miler, where he was the first American in a PR 49:01.

Tyler McCandless, 8th Place Cherry Blossom 10 Miles 49:01

Addendum:  From Tyler himself, I learned of several other Lion Alums taking over Washington DC!

Patrick Murphy , and Scott Munro ran 54:20 and 54:26 respectively. Chris Pruitt in 53:32!  Stephanie- Pezz Pezzullo was 9th American in the US Championships too!!