Will Barr's Discus Lands In The Big Ten*

Will Barr will stay within the Big Ten family* with the announcement of his hire by Rutgers University (Newark)of his position as Assistant to the Athletic Director and Assistant Throws Coach of the Track and Field team.  Congrats to Will!

*Rutgers-Newark.  Not the first error I've made, and not the last. 

What A Weekend

Another superb Penn Relays in the books. It was great seeing old teammates again, this weekend has really evolved into a mini reunion for us. The first ever Reconnect at the Relays was a success as well, a great event for alumni attending the Relays to connect with one another. The perfect prequel for the big reunion in May.

On the track, we were represented by three alums competing in distance events. Brian Fuller DNFed in the men's Olympic Development 5000 meters. He was feeling under the weather but being the Penn Relays, you line up and give it a shot. Kara Foster got a new mile PR with her 14th place 4:43.97 in the women's Olympic Development Mile. Owen Dawson lined up for the men's Olympic Development Mile, last year he ran his first sub 4 here, and went for the win holding first place with 200 meters go. He ran 4:00.13 for 5th place.

Per usual the Nittany Lions had multiple event winners.

Congratulations to:

Leigha Anderson 10000 meters COA division

Laura Loht javelin COA division

Will Barr discus college division

Michael Shuey javelin COA division

Steve Waithe triple jump COA division

Bernard Bennett-Green, Brandon Bennett-Green, Alex Shisler, Byron Robinson 4x400 IC4A division

Of course part of what makes the Penn Relays great is the scene outside of Franklin Field. I will leave you with this video of the party.

All-American Honors

Congratulations are in order for the All-American honors earned this past weekend at the NCAA Indoor Championships.

          First Team All-American:
          Will Barr                35 lb weight throw 
          Mahagony Jones   200 meter dash       
          Brittney Howell     pentathlon, 4x400 meter relay             
          Steve Waithe          triple jump            
          Kiah Seymour       400 meter dash, 4x400 meter relay  
          Za'von Watkins     800 meter run
          Dynasty McGee     4x400 meter relay
          Tichina Rhodes     4x400 meter relay    

          Second Team All-American:
          Evonne Britton      60 meter hurdles
          Jon Hendershot     high jump
          Wade Endress       distance medley relay
          Za'von Watkins    distance medley relay
          Brannon Kidder   800 meter run, distance medley relay
          Robby Creese        distance medley relay

        

Top Ten Finish For Penn State Men: Six More First Team All-Americans

Congrats to the Mens Team on a very successful season.  It certainly was exciting from start to finish.  The NCAA Indoor Championships ended yesterday with PSU in a three-way tie for Ninth Place with 19 Points.

What happened to the beard?

PSU is 800 U

All-Americans:

1. Brannon Kidder FR  Distance Medley 1200 M  Second Place (2:55.17)
2. Brandon Bennett-Green JR Distance Medley 400 M Second Place (46.55)
3. Za'Von Watkins FR  Distance Medley  800 M Second Place (1:49.54)
4. Robbie Creese SO  Distance Medley  1600 M Second Place (4:02.75)
5. Will Barr JR Weight Throw  Sixth Place (69' 11.75") School Record
6. Casimir Loxsom SR 800 M Second Place (1:47.23)

It's Easy to Notice a 3:57.11 Mile! The Rest Impresses Me Just as Much

It was a great weekend for the Nittany Lions at both venues.  Needless to say, the Penn State Record in the mile run by Robbie Creese takes top billing, but there were 2 other school records set.

Robbie's 3:57.11 made him the first collegian in a packed field at the Husky Invitational in Seattle.  That places him as the second Lion to better the mythical barrier in just a couple of weeks.  Freshman Brannon Kidder bettered the mark in State College previously.  This was Robbie's third breaking of the barrier in just his second year of college.

Other school records were set by Sam Masters in the 3000 M (7:54.52) in Washington and Will Barr in the Weight Throw (67 feet 11.75 inches) at the Spire Institute in Ohio.

And that is really just a tip of an iceberg.  There were many seasonal bests and personal bests set on both tracks.  The 400M the 3000M events had numerous on both the Mens and Womens side. The field wasn't immune to a Nittany Lion onslaught either.  What's interesting about both squads is that they are always ready to compete.  More than a few of us notice.

PSU is 800 U: (4 x 200 M = 800 M)

The team of  Emunuel Mpanduki, Matt Gilmore, Brandon Bennett-Green and Aaron Nodolsky set the School and Collegiate Record (1:24.70) in the 4 x 200 M Relay in the opening salvo of the record assault known as the Penn State National.  Will Barr also set the school record in the Weight Throw (67' 3.50").

 

I'm hopping on the treadmill for a miserable 1 or 2 miles then heading up to a snowy State College for this afternoon's races.  Be sure to look for me and say hello!

Nittany Lions Start NCAA Championships Today

There will be 6 Nittany Lions competing today at the NCAA Championships in Des Moines.

1. Will Barr - Discus
2. Lauren Kenney - Javelin
3. Laura Loht - Javelin
4. Casimir Loxsom - 800 M
5. Brady Gehret - 400 M
6. Rebekka Simko - 800 M

PSU is 800 U  and  PSU is Javelin U!

NCAA Bound

It was a fine Regional Qualifying Meet for PSU Athletes on both the track and the field.

1. Joe Kovacs - Shot Put                                                                                                            
2. Lauren Kenney - Javelin
3. Laura Loht - Javelin
4. Will Barr - Discus
5. Brady Gehret - 400 M
6. Casimir Loxsom - 800 M
7. Rebecca Simko - 800 M
8. Melissa Kurzdorfer - Hammer
9. Aaron Nodolsky, Brandon Bennett-Green, Casimir Loxsom, Brady Gehret - 1600 M Relay (3:03.57 School Record)
10. Doris Anyanwu, Dynasty McGee, Ijeoma Iheoma, Kristin Nieuwemdam - 1600 M Relay

Repeat B1G Champion Kara Millhouse!

Kara Millhouse won the Big Ten 10000M Championship for the second straight year on the first day of the Meet. Her 34:25.78 topped the field for PSU's first Champion of the weekend.

Melissa Kurzdorfer just missed the top of the podium after uncorking a PR throw on her last effort in the Hammer with 207' 5" for second place.

The Mens Hammer also saw a PR by Will Barr with a 198' 7", which was good for seventh place.

Kyle Dawson ran a game 10000 M for his highest ever 4th place in 29:16.65.

Some Fine First Day Performances

Rebekka Simko stepped up from her usual distance and impressed with a victory in the 1500 M at the Bison Outdoor Classic at Bucknell on Saturday.  Her 4:20.11 is in the top 10 PSU performances all-time.
Robbie Creese continued his impressive Freshman exploits with  his 1500 M in a facility record 3:43.79.

The Lady Lions took the top 4 positions in the 3000 M Steeplechase with Natalie Bower leading them with a 10:25.46.  In the 10,000 M run, Chris Cipro PR'ed with a fine 29:53.07.

The Throwers continued their fine early season with Joe Kovacs and Will Barr going 1-2 in the Discus with throws of 176' 9" and 174' 8".

Events continue today in Lewisburg, PA.

Wow!

In his first ever college race, Freshman Robbie Creese bided his time in the first half of his 1000 M race and then just turned on the gas. He never let up until the tape and then the fun began. His 2:19.53 was obviously better than Clothing Engineer Ryan Foster's School Record. But then it was also the facility record and the event record. As if that wasn't enough, it bettered Alan Webb's 2006 Junior Record. (Robbie won't turn 19 until August!) After additional checking it turns out his effort is the Indoor 1000 M Collegiate Record! This bettered a former 2008 Olympian's previous record, (Christian Smith).  Wow!

There were other signs of a big season upcoming from the Nittany Lions:

1. Caitlin Lane - School Record 1000 M  - 2:44.24.
2. Casimir Loxsom - School Record 600 M - 1:16.66.
3. Jane Swenson's second straight home victory in the shot put - 47' 7".
4. Will Barr's second straight home victory in the 35 lb weight throw - 60' 11.5" (approximately 60 ' further than I could ever throw it!) And this article on Will comes from Blog Laureate Larry Mangan.  We are trying to come up with a different title for Larry. which should be finalized following the Penn State National.)
5. Hanif Johnson- Triple Jump of 51' 4.25" (third in the nation!)
6. Jon Hendershot - another 7' clearance in the high jump.

I apologize for missing so many other worthy efforts!  I can't wait to see the Nits at the Penn State National!