It Was A Banner Weekend For 800U

 

Wow.  There was finally a lot going on.  There was a School Record in the Pole Vault and a second place finish at the Big Ten Indoor Championships.  Luke Knipe scaled the heights to 17' 4.5"!!!  Sincere Rhea leaned better than all the rest to snag the 60HH Championship.  Whoa.

There were a few other finishes for the scaled-down teams sent to Geneva, Ohio.  But mostly, the 800U dominance continued for the Men and Women.

• Dom Perretta overcame injuries, Covid, surgeries and his recent 300-game bowling incident to return to the top of the Podium in the 800M .  He did it in a fashion favored by Yevgeni Arzhanov in the 1972 Olympic Finals.  Only this time Yevgeni holds on!  I have been thinking that this would happen each of the last 100 times I have watched that race, but here it is many years later with one of our own striking gold.  (12 of the last 14, and 5 in-a-row B1G)
  
• The dual Victorias medaled in the Womens 800M.  Not to be outdone by Dom, Victoria Vanriele channeled Dave Wottle instead and caught everyone at the tape.  Victoria Tachinski held on for 3rd.(5 in-a-row B1G titles)
  

 

 

https://twitter.com/i/status/1365704786625105926

Still, the Alumni provided even more 800U goodness.

• Instead of racing, Danae Rivers danced for the duration in the Dance Marathon to benefit the Four Diamonds Fund.
• Isaiah Harris bounced back from his disappointing opening season race to win the 800 in Autin, Texas  with a 1:46 and change.  He says he is confident on 1:43 when the time comes at the Olympic Trials...

Tim McGowan, Billy Cvecko and Isaiah Harris in Texas.

 

Let's Let Two Of Our Esteemed Honorary Members Introduce This Year's Track Season!

 

 1972 Olympic Gold and Silver Medalists Dave Wottle and Yevgeni Arzhanov struck up a nice friendship following their incredible race.  My hopes for America's future can be symbolized with this photo. Photo thanks to Yevgeni.

And right on cue, the most notable result from the opening meet of 2021 was Evan Dorenkamp's superb Mile in 4:01.91.  He was paced by fellow 800U runners Dominic Perretta (1:59.53 809M) and Will Ashenfelter (3:05.10 1209M).  He followed them and accelerated to the win for a 7 second PR.

It Only Took Me One Day To Get Back To Our Main Meme: PSU IS 800U!

Remember, I didn't make up this meme, but I can take credit for spreading it far and wide.  This moniker pleases many. many Nittany Lions, regardless of their track and field credentials.  And it tics off all the right people, for sure.

As a matter of fact, I celebrate good 800M running no matter from whom it comes.  I just like it more when PSU is bringing it to the fore.  It isn't a boast, it is a celebration of the event and the sport in its full.  And people are listening across the entire country.  I have had nice messages from many, some from other schools encouraging more information.

And more 800M information will be forthcoming when my "day job" allows.  I have rounded up an intriguing team to discuss, compare and revel in the 800M goodness.  This includes record holders from the 1960s, Olympians from the 1970s (Dave Wottle and Yevgeni Arzhonov!), 1980s Nittany Lions and recent PSU standouts and more!  This may come in various formats I am toying with, possibly even a Podcast from Eastern Europe to Blog Central to Western Canada simultaneously.

With the Semi Finals of the Olympic Trials behind us, it is time to honor the long and incredible career of Brannon Kidder at PSU.  His 12th place finish at the Trials indicates just how long a season he has had.  The Brooks Beast team is lucky to have someone with so much upside, especially since he is also a typically high caliber of Nittany Lion in all aspects of life.

And what's to say about our Sophomore-to-be Isaiah Harris?  With 2 other young 800M runners (Shaquille Walker and Donavan Brazier) eclipsing his shining star earlier in the season, it is important to note who is still standing at the end of the season!  Isaiah is also a high caliber of Nittany Lion in all aspects of life. It was a pleasure meeting him at the recent Reunion.  He has had to keep setting new goals every few weeks all season, once the previous one was surpassed with much of the season remaining.  And I'm pleased to note that his 800U bracelet was the last one I had to give out, and he has worn it with pride.  (Next year's wristband edition may have to highlight the Shot Put just to keep the Big Guys from beating me up! Donations to fund them are certainly appreciated!)

Casimir Loxsom has rounded into shape at the right time for a chance to represent 800U on the biggest stage track and field has.  Earlier in his career, he was (unfairly) criticized for being in shape early in the season and trailing off come outdoor championship time.  That certainly isn't the case this year!  I hope he has that one more race in him to make a surge for the podium tomorrow.  (The 800M is one of the hardest events to predict, evidenced by the parade of big name failures already out of the final.)

• Casimir Loxsom        3rd in heat 1 semi-final       1:45.93
• Isaiah Harris              4th in heat 1 semi-final       1:45.95
• Brannon Kidder        8th in heat 1 semi-final       1:48.76  (12th overall)    

Cas Loxsom, in yellow.

Isaiah Harris. Note blue wristband on right wrist!

800U News Keeps Getting Better!

And there is even more to come!

First up, Steve Shisler was just named Coach of the Year for the PTFCA!  His State College Boys team took home the team title by 1 point at the PIAA AAA Championships last week for the first time in school history.  The fact that he golfed with us and attended our Reunion with his busy schedule is a testament to his organizational skills!

His 4 x 800M team won with a splendid 7:37.25 time, #1 US, which I am sure pleases him more than just about anything could.  State College is 800HS!

Alex Milligan, anchor.

 And in other news....

Olympic Champion Dave Wottle has accepted an honorary membership in 800U!  With his school,  Bowling Green University, without a Mens track team (yeah, they have a Womens team!), I thought he might like to join with us.  That means he is on a team with his Bowling Green mentor, Sid Sink, and his 1972 Olympic opponent Yevgeni Arzhanov, who joined us a few months ago.

Dave Wottle, right, with Jim Ryun, left.

There will be more to come, I promise.

A Day For Blogging, And A Little Podiatry Thrown In

With the monumental snow still snarling most of York, I am here at "work" mostly twiddling my thumbs and waiting for the occasional patient.  This gives me time for what I really enjoy... Blogging about Track and Field and motivating other alums into attending our Reunion and Golf Tourney.

Efforts are already underway to expand upon the 800U meme that has acquainted us with Olympic Silver Medalist Yevgeni Arzhanov.  Phil Passen's embrace of "the beautiful sport" led him to Yevgeni and Phil is efforting to expand upon his brief reply to our questions previously posted!

And the string of Phil to Yevgeni has extended further, with Once Upon a Time In the Vest's George Brose getting me in touch with Sid Sink, All-American Steeplechaser and roommate of Dave Wottle at Bowling Green University.  I am about to message Dave in hopes he will also accept an honorary membership in our Alumni Group with Sid, as Bowling Green no longer even has a team!  This could lead to some great discussion on training and its changes over the years and hopefully more.  Keep your fingers crossed!

It turns out that Sid Sink was the coach of both of Bridget Franek's parents (Tom & Rosalie Franek) at Bowling Green.  It is no wonder that he describes her parents as "very good distance runners". Here's a couple of articles about Sid (and Dave Wottle), our latest Honorary Member!

Retired coach was world-class runner at BGSU

The Age of Innocence 

Murph Byrne, Bob McComber, Sid Sink, Rick Schnittker, Dave Wottle & Steve Danforth

 

 

Chief Laundry and Morale Officer Larry Mangan also is quite pleased with our latest couple of posts.  He relates that news of Yevgeni completes a weird trifecta involving him and each of the 1972 Olympic 800M medalists.  He was recruited by Dave Wottle at Walsh College and had the pleasure of occasional distance runs with Mike Boit while in Eugene, Oregon. 

I am literally astounded how almost every one of us is linked to each other in this glorious world of Track and Field, despite many miles and even time itself!

Yevgeni Arzhanov Gracefully Accepts Our Invitation And Gives A Brief Interview

Yevgeni Arzhanov (Евгений Аржанов)

The snows came and kept coming, and for the first time in a long time outpaced anything the meteorologists had predicted.  Apparently with Tyler McCandless getting engaged and preparing for the Olympics Trials Marathon, he wasn't able to correct his colleagues.  So I'm stuck here in under more than 2 feet of snow.  (25.5 inches here.  Anyone have more than that out there?)  My honeydew list includes actually digging my car out of the white stuff so that I can go to work and get the phone calls for appointment cancellations on Monday.  Other than that, I plan on resting comfortably on my lounge chair today.

Spott Moskowitz pondering his next meal.

The Matterhorn ate my car.

And our newest honorary member of the Group (and 800U) Евгений Аржанов, Yevgeni Arzhanov, gracefully responded to a few questions we sent his way.  

Blog Central (skwilli): What are your memories of the 800M Finals in Munich, 1972?

Yevgeni: 

Thanks, David (skwilli), thanks Philip (Passen) for my membering in 800U. In final 800 m 1972 Olympics Munich I was make two mistakes. First - I was begin my finish spurt very early. Second- I was begin spurt very fast. Dave Wottle no forgiven my such mistakes.

Blog Central (skwilli):  Tell us about your career following retirement from running?

Yevgeni:

After finish sport career I working as coach in Ukraine. Later 15 years worked as coach of the national teams of the USSR and Ukraine. After worked as coach in South Korea, China, Tunisia, another countries. Now wait any propositions for job as coach.

Blog Central (Phil Passen):  Do you support Dynamo Kiev in Football (Soccer for us noobs)?

Yevgeni:  

Twice I worked in Dynamo Kiev as coach for physical preparation. I have many friends, former players Dynamo. But......I"m fan Liverpool! Today L-pool vs. Norvich -5:4!!!

Thank you Yevgeni!  When we are able to contact Dave Wottle, we will let you know.  I'm sure Dave will also accept our invitation to 800U because his college actually dropped Track and Field (Athletics) as a sport some time ago.  Then the two of you can actually be teammates!