800 High

800 High lived up to the name at the PIAA State Championships. Coached by former Penn State standout Steve Shisler, and led by future Nittany Lions Will Cather and Kyle Adams, the Little Lions won the AAA 4x800 in a new school record of 7:41.99. They broke the old school set all the way back in 1969.

The 4x8 was just the start to their weekend, as both Kyle and Will ran on the schools 6th place 4x400 while Will placed 6th in the open 800 with a 1:54.56. Indoor and outdoor 4x8 State Champs, the pipeline from 800 High to 800 U continues!

One proud coach

 

Steve isn't the only Penn State Track Alum developing young athletes at State High. Despite his background in the long stuff, Artie Gilkes has made a nice transition to jumps coach. Under Artie's tutelage, Bryce Williams jumped himself to a 9th place (22' 5") and 3rd place (47' 7 1/4") finish in the long jump and triple jump respectively. Bryce will also be attending Penn State next year. I always love seeing local athletes going from State High to Penn State.

*If we are missing any Alums who had athletes at the State Meet please let us know in the comments section.

UPDATE: Steve Shisler with corrections.

Kyle Adams is headed to run for Bucknell next fall.

It's Mason Post headed to 800 U with Will Cather. All 3 of these guys ran on the 4x400 and Mason anchored with a 48.8 split.

Jump Guru Artie Gilkes also coaches the girl's jumper's at State. Veronika Karpenko, a soph, took 3rd in the Triple in a new school record 39 feet and 12th in the Long Jump on Friday

From Sea to Shining Sea

The Penn State men and women spent the weekend either in Seattle, WA or Geneva, OH. Since I can't be in two places at once (not yet at least) and the blog revenues can't afford to reimburse travel expenses. I'll leave the coverage this week to GoPSUSports.com. Results and recap from here. (Kara Foster did throw down a 16:01.56 5000 meter at the Husky Classic.)

 

At the USA Cross Country Championships in Boulder, CO our own Tyler McCandless took 21st in 38:32 for the 12K course.

 

Photo via the Newton Running Elite facebook page

The 107th Millrose Games at Madison Square Garden The Armory had the Steve Shisler led State College boys take second in the high school boys 4x800 in 7:47.75 while future 800U member William Cather split 1:53.9. Only 10 years ago that time would of easily won an outdoor state title and now it's common place for an indoor stuff. Crazy stuff from 800 High. Since we had alumni involved in competition from coast to coast (literally), I am giving this my performance of the weekend. Props to Coach Shisler for getting the boys to think big time. Video of the race from the State College TFXC facebook page.

 

 

Post by State College TFXC.

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.