Penn State Track And Field Alumni Golfers Promoted!

Not me.  I'm still a lowly regarded employee at my own business. But I'm really better at it than I am at golf...

Ryan Foster and Jess Riden (both Officers of our group!) have been promoted in the Track World.

Ryan Foster was named Assistant Coach at Tennessee, joining former Coach Alford-Sullivan at Rocky Top.  He takes his numerous Coach of the Year honors at Division II Edinboro and his wonderful wife Kara Millhouse south of the Mason-Dixon Line.  Our Tennessee friend and All-American, Patrick Davey is delighted.  He also joins Assistant Coach Steve Waithe. The Orange is starting to get a little more Blue, isn't it?

And Jess Riden has stepped up at Stanford to Assistant Athletic Director!  Congrats.

Both have golfed in our Golf Tourney and Ryan was able to pull off the "Adam Sandler" tee shot better than anyone among us ever has.

A Prophetic Dream of the Penn State National

The only thing more boring than hearing someone tell you about their dream is hearing someone tell you about a dream that you weren't in.  That's why this post is mostly for Aaron Nadolsky, Connor Manley, Wade Endress, and Coach Sullivan.  On the off chance you are still interested in reading, well then, enjoy...

January 30, 2015.  The Penn State National.
Glen Mills High School Indoor Track Facility. Glen Mills, PA.

Tonight's DMR team is in the midst of an attempt at a national-leading mark. Connor Manley has just finished the 800 meter leg and hands off the baton to 400m leg Aaron Nadolsky in 1:51 (in this particular race someone arbitrarily decides to run the 800 before the 400.  Just go with it.)

Penn State holds a commanding lead.  Nadolsky now carries the baton, pumps his arms relentlessly, and cycles his legs through strong and steady like pistons, but he's not going anywhere.  Instead he runs in place on the start line for 47 seconds. Having covered no ground whatsoever but clearly giving it all he's got judging by the look of Greg Jennings-esque determination on his face, his leg is now apparently over as he lunges forward to hand me the baton.

At this point I'm confused.  It's not unusual at all to me that Aaron just ran in place for 47 seconds, but I do find it strange that he did it facing in the wrong direction. Nevertheless, now the baton is in my grasp and I hesitantly start jogging clockwise headed toward the turn on the backstretch.  Not really sure about what I'm doing or if I am running in the right direction, I stop dead in my tracks and look to the sideline, and calmly ask Penn State senior Wade Endress.

"Which way?"

Wade is biting his lip, with a big grin trying not to laugh, he shakes his head, and points me in the other direction.  I laugh at myself too.

No big deal. I retrace my lost 50 meters and head off for the first of (apparently) four laps.  Four minutes and four seconds later I cross the finish line feeling no fatigue, no strain. I ran most of the race in lane six, as my tremendous speed and momentum forced me to the outside lanes.

I've only run four, 200-meter laps but Coach Sullivan says I'm done. I try in vain to convince her that I am pretty sure I still have another four laps to go, but everyone on the team seems to disagree with me.  I shrug my shoulders, smile, and look up at the scoreboard to see our official, winning time:  9:33.12 - it's an NCAA leader!  The Glen Mills crowd roars its approval! Coach Sullivan informs me I closed the last 400 meters of the race in a blistering 89 seconds to secure the victory.  Everyone is impressed.  I am confused by the math, but happy nonetheless.

It was the strangest, most glorious race of our lives.  And I now issue a challenge to Penn State's season opening DMR to top Connor Manley's, Aaron Nadolsky's, and my NCAA-leading performance.  Should we expect it on January 30?  Should Glen Mills host in 2016?  Does the team need me to fly back to State College and count laps?

If you can dream it, you can achieve it.

This One Will Take Some Getting Used To

But Coach Gondak will be beginning his first Mens and Womens Cross Country season and it's up to all of us to do what we can to make it a success.  Throw your support behind the PSU Program and Coach Gondak with actions and contributions if you are able. It looks to be a great year for PSU XC and Track and Field.

On Top of The Big Ten, And the World!

With her teams garnering 3rd place (Men) and the Championship (Women) of the Big Ten Indoor Track and Field season, Coach Beth Alford-Sullivan has been selected as the Big Ten Coach of the Year.  Congrats!

And Assistant Coach and honorary PSU Track Alumni (Golfer) Ryan Whiting  is competing today at the IAFF Championships in Sopot, Poland. (Cause when I think Indoor Track, I think Poland...)  Ryan is also the centerfold spread in the newest Track and Field News.  We're still working to get him on the links at the Coach Groves Tourney.

Addendum:  Ryan just threw 72' 4" for the win and the defense of his Indoor World Title.

From Red Square to the Flemington Diner

A Call for Masters XC Runners!

Steve Shisler has put a call out to join a Masters XC team for this year's USTAF Championships in Flemington NJ on Saturday October 20.  Top notch talent is already on board with Nick Kello and Mark Hawkins already on board with Steve. Let's put PSU Alumni on top where we belong! I had some pleasant childhood memories at the Flemington Diner which has been resurrected.

And here's Coach Sullivan ready to lead the troops into the IAAF World Championships in Russia.

Coach Sullivan in Red Square.

It Was a Very Fine Year

None of the Nittany Lions qualified for the Finals in yesterday's action at the USATF Senior Championships.  But with that disappointment comes the realization of what a great year it was for Penn State Track and Field.  (Several Lions are left in the Junior Championships and several alums and honorary alums are still in the hunt for the Seniors.)

Honorary PSU Track Alumni Golfer Ryan Whiting with Former Lion Coach T.J. Crater (UW Coach now) and Joe Kovacs ready for Sunday's action.

Tori Gerlach continued PSU Steeplechase prowess, placing 4th in the event at the Junior Championships in 10:55.19. Kiah Seymour just missed the Finals in the 400 M Hurdles, placing 9th in 1:00.38.

Freshman (now Sophomore!) Brannon "The Kid" Kidder found himself in a very fast Semi-Final of the 800 M.  With the leaders at under 51 seconds at the 400 M mark, Brannon found himself playing catch-up early.  Things never materialized and he finished 7th at 1:48.82, two seconds off his new PR and in overall 15th place.

Senior (now Brooks Running Group and PSU Track Alumni!) Casimir Loxsom also found himself in a pretty quick opening 400 M, with him in among the leaders.  The final 100 M looked to be a little bit of torture, as the looooong Collegiate season came to a close for him.  He finished 7th in his heat, 13th place overall in 1:46.73.  I want to take this opportunity to let Cas know that I have thoroughly enjoyed watching his Penn State career and can't wait to see what the sport has in store for him.  Keep in touch with our Alumni Group when possible!

Brook's star Casimir Loxsom. Photo by Becky Miller.

Here's a nice Flotrack Article about PSU's 800 M Semi-Finalists.

And let's not forget that Coach Beth Alford-Sullivan is the Head Women's Coach for the World Championships in Moscow.

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)

Finally, The Distance Medley Relay Video!!!*

                        Watch more video of 2013 ND Alex Wilson Invitational on flotrack.org


And the votes are in, Coach Sullivan, Gondak and Bungard all win Coach of the Year for the Mid-Atlantic Region from theUSTFCCCA. Casimir Loxsom takes Athlete of the Year also!     Huzzah.

* Can anyone tell me why my primitive work computer can access Flotrack but my home dream computer can't?  Does it have something to do with Flash or something else?  I'd love to fix it.       

PSU is 800 U: And Millrose (and IAAF) Bound

On an otherwise off week for the Nittany Lions, a small contingent of athletes will head to the Armory in Manhattan for the Millrose Games.  A quartet of middle-distance stars will make a stab at a team record in the 4 x 800, or possibly more...

Remember, this isn't the 160 yard wooden monstrosity that Coghlan ran on at Madison Square Garden!  They are probably still cleaning up from the Westminster Dog Show anyway.  The Armory track is at least as fast as the Ashenfelter oval*.

Banana Joe after possibly soiling Madison Square Garden.

In other news, Penn State already has someone slated for the IAAF World Championships this summer!  It's Head Coach Beth Alford-Sullivan, who will be the Women's Head Coach for the squad.  Additionally, she will soon be in charge of the organization with the longest name in the world**, the USTFCCCA.

And Ryan Whiting continues to lead the world in the Shot Put, winning another meet in Poland after just 15 hours of travel.  I just flew in from Poland and boy are my arms tired!

* I know it's not an oval!
** Maybe not the longest, but close.

A Little Chin Music!

Coach Sullivan got to throw out the first pitch at the State College Spike's last home game of the season yesterday.  I know how hard that is (just ask our current President!).  Avoiding embarrassment by bouncing the ball in the dirt usually lives forever in today's cell phone video era.  So, with all the pressure on, Coach Sullivan did extremely well. Imagine a hitter like Vlad Guerrero at the plate, and she dealt him a high brush-back pitch at his chin! You go, Coach!

Addendum:  Due to the light content in today's post, I will add some truths to live by:

• It is impossible to make a pizza 1/2 Anchovies. (I love anchovies on pizza.)
• Unemployment would be way under 8% if they included all the drivers ahead of me making a career out of a left hand turn.  
• Add in the number of people stealing all the metal from your property for recycling and you reach the magical "full employment" numbers.
• A confabulist marathon between Paul Ryan and Debbie Wasserman-Shultz would be a hootenanny. Bring popcorn.

More may follow...

Unrelated Good News

1. Penn State lead the nation in graduation rate of football players.  More importantly, the graduation rate of African-American athletes and White athletes show absolutely no difference. Not many institutions even come close.
2. Hang in there for 20 more years and you may live forever.  The Singularity has long been a favorite thought exercise for me.
3. Mike Pfaff has top billing in the movie Catch Me Now.

Catch Me Now Trailer from Alexandra Manea on Vimeo.

    4.  Penn State Track and Field and Cross Country (and Our Group) stand ready to do what is necessary to make Penn State the Institution that can again claim the "Success with Honor" mantle.

Coach Beth Alford-Sullivan's Statement on today's NCAA sanctions:

To All  Penn State Track and Field/Cross Country Team Members, Alumni, Fans, and Friends –

|| Link to Statements from Acting AD Dave Joyner and Head Football Coach Bill O’Brien ||

The results of today’s NCAA sanctions on the Penn State football program and Penn State University have a significant impact on the university and athletic department.  Although, these may be interpreted as harsh and severe, one must remember the issues that have brought us to this point.  After lengthy departmental meetings today, I am confident in Penn State’s ability to turn the page and move forward. Support for our program of track and field and cross country will be maintained at the high level we know to keep us competitive within the Big Ten and NCAA.  This was demonstrated to the coaches through President Emmert and the Penn State athletic and university leadership.

I am confident that in lieu of these penalties, positive change and great success will be achieved.

All of us must interpret and digest the events of the last eight months, but as a unit, we must choose to move forward in a positive and productive manner.  I ask from each of you to stay the course and believe our best is yet to come.  I have been and continue to be honored to serve at this fine institution and this amazing athletic department and this outstanding track and field/cross country program.

We Are … And We Will.

Beth Alford-Sullivan

Director and Head Coach

Penn State Men’s and Women’s

Track and Field/Cross Country

Jess Riden

Director of Operations

Track and Field/Cross Country

Penn State University

147 Bryce Jordan Center

Cross Country Recap: Performances of the Year

In no particular order!

1.  Coach Alford-Sullivan being selected to receive the 2011 Joseph Robichaux Award, which acknowledges a coach, administrator, or volunteer who has made a significant impact in women's track and field in the United States. Congrats!
2. Owen Dawson's  performance at the NCAA Regionals at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore.  As I always kid Steve Shisler, "Not bad for a half-miler!" (It's only in jest and I condemn myself after each utterance.)  I see some great middle distance efforts ahead!
3. Caitlin Lane's All-American performance at the NCAA Championships.  Enough said!
4. Doreen McCoubrie's (Startare) marathon at Philly last month.  2:50:23 at age 50. (Sorry about that Doreen, but I suppose everyone knows now!) This is very near Joan Benoit Samuelson's World Record for the age group and placed first in the age-adjusted scores now used widely for comparisons.  (And Doreen, you need an Alumni Singlet!)

Revitalized Ten Questions: The Coaches Edition

As more and more attention is directed to the Penn State Track Program, more and more people seem interested in our humble group of Alumni Tracksters.  Coach Beth Alford-Sullivan recently acquiesced to being our first victim in the revamped Blog Ten Questions.  This comes after the announcenment of her appointment as the Women's Head Coach at the Junior Pan-Am Games in Florida later this Summer.

1.  What was your first experience with track and field?   

 Running the 6^th grade 600m dash….I was 2^nd to Bob Kempainen….who went on to be a 2 time Olympian in the marathon 1992 and 1996…..Bob and I made a pact to be Olympians because his older brother was in Cross Country skiing at the time and I eventually got there as the 2004 Coach!!  And so it began at Burwell School in Minnetonka, Minnesota!


2.  If you didn't get in track coaching, what would you have done instead?
 
 I would have a reality TV show that followed around Track Coaches and programs….this would be a huge hit!

 3.  What was your most rewarding experience in track coaching?

 There are Sooooo….many….hard to pick one or just a few….but mostly seeing the program and individuals progess is the best!!

4.  What is the hardest part of your job?

There really isn’t a hard part…but you must have patience….with all aspects of the job….and many times that is not a strong suit of mineJ!!

5.  Who are your biggest coaching influences?

My husband continues to be on a daily basis….my parents always are supportive…Vin Lananna at Oregon over the years has been a great mentor….my best friends/Kim McGreevy (former PSU great)/Kathleen Raske (Head Coach at Sacramento State/JJ Clark (Head Coach at Tennessee)/and Greg Metcalf (Head Coach at University of Washington).  These are my Go-To peeps!!

6.  Was initially adjusting to State College life as difficult as I think it would have been?

Moving to State College from Palo Alto, Ca…was tough, what can I say….now I wouldn’t trade it for NOTHING!!

7.  If trapped on a desert island with a solar-powered video player, what 1 movie would you play over and over?

I would play the movie Slap Shot over and over….Paul Newman was an inspiration!

8.  And which 1book would you read, over and over?

Seabiscuit….hands down.  The story of that race horse was one I LOVE!  I have a photo of Seabiscut beating War Admiral on my wall in my office.  He was a true American Hero.

 9.  Which track and field event is your favorite to watch, (not Coach)?

OK….I love the Javelin…especially when thrown correctly…it is beautiful to see.

10.  Have you ever tried Kung Pao Chicken?

 Yes, but I favor a good ol….cheeseburger and a cold beer.

PSU is 800 U: USATF Edition

Both PSU runners made it to the finals of the USATF National Championships tonite in Eugene.  Casimir Loxsom and Sam Borchers will be representing PSU in the finals on Sunday.  Make sure to order your limited edition "PSU is 800 U" t-shirt before they are sold out!  Congrats to both Cas and Sam, and also to Coaches Beth Alford-Sullivan and  John Gondak.

Addendum:  Blog favorite Bridget Franek also qualified for the finals in the 3000M SC.

Smooches for Coach Sullivan

 

A new camera still can't help me take good pictures!  I think this one didn't turn out well because of the flash from another camera, but what do I know?  It will still be one of my favorites because it shows just how well the continuity of PSU Track has turned out.  There were naysayers and skeptics following Coach Groves' retirement in 2006, and our group has done its best to make them all change their minds.  This photo should add a few converts to our fold.  Both Coach Alford-Sullivan and Coach Groves attended our Reunion evening, and you can see they are both on the same page.  Times are different, with budgetary issues, Title IX, a litigious society, cell phones etc., but the spirit and reverence for the history and future of PSU Track is still alive and well. I would like to think that our group has had a little bit to do with that, and will have even more to do with it in the coming years. 

Coach Alford Sullivan later gave Coach Groves a birthday present.  The photo of the Sprint Medley  Relay quartet on the medal stand at Penn with Coach Groves made him smile quite a bit.  This photo was taken by my daughter with the same camera.  An artist I am not!

One Happy Family

There is a great article in the current Track and Field News about women who coach Division I men's track and field teams, and their overall great success.  Of course, high on the list is our very own Beth Alford-Sullivan.  I think she is only one of two on the list to have Coach of the Year honors with both men's and women's teams.

When the change came about in 2006, there were many among us who were naysayers, some for good reasons and some for not so good reasons.  Change is always hard, especially for those of us in Central Pennsylvania. I was among the group who thought they had good reasons to oppose the move.  But then I took the time to become informed and watch the functioning of the teams.  I bothered to introduce myself to Coach Sullivan and began to find that things were indeed working very well.  I'm now a true friend of the Program. You too should make a little effort to see what good things are happening in State College.

Larry Mangan alerted me to the significance of the photo included in the article.  It shows Coach Sullivan exhorting a men's relay participant, none other than Matt Groves, son of former coach, Harry Groves.  For those of us from the 60's, 70's, 80's and 90's, this photo should slap us beside the head and cause us to support the Program as never before. None of us from my era could have ever imagined a scenario where a son of Coach Groves would be coached by a woman at PSU.  Seeing Coach Groves and Coach Sullivan together at our event last year (and hopefully with Coach Lucas included this year) represents a turning point of sorts. Make the small effort involved in becoming informed about the good things happening with the Track Program and you too will become a partner in the effort to make it the pre-eminent program in the country.  It isn't an impossible task, and it'll be fun every step of the way.

Only Seven Cross Country Coaches in 99 Years!

I have lifted this entire History of Penn State Cross Country from the All-Sports Museum Archives.  I hope this constitutes fair use!  I do this in order to emphasize that PSU runners are the most loyal group of athletes in the sport.  Only 7 coaches in our history, and the first one was the ex-football coach and only started the program and gave the reins up after one year!

PennState first fielded a men’s cross-country team in 1912, under coach Pop Golden, who ten years previously was the Nittany Lions’ football coach.  After one season, C.W. Martin took over the coaching reins, and in 1920, John Romig became the school’s first of seven Intercollegiate Association of Amateur Athletes of America (IC4A) individual champions. Under Coach Nate Cartmell (1922-1932), Bill Cox won consecutive IC4A individual championships, the only Nittany Lion to accomplish this feat, and the team won IC4A championships in 1926, 1927, 1928, and 1930.
Chick Werner was appointed head coach in 1933.  Under his tutelage, PennStateenjoyed great success at the national level. The Nittany Lions finished in the NCAA top 5 nine consecutive times and eleven times overall, shared one national title (1941) and won two others outright (1947, 1950).  PennStatealso won IC4A team championships in 1950 and 1951, Curt Stone and Horace Ashenfelter were NCAA individual runners-up (in 1946 and 1947 respectively), and runners earned 22 All-American honors.
John Lucas succeeded Werner in 1962, and Howie Deardoff earned All-American honors that year.  In 1968, the legendary Harry Groves became head coach.  Since then, the Nittany Lions have won three Central Collegiate team championships, one IC4A championship, and eight NCAA Region II championships, four of them consecutively (1978-1981).  In 1991, PennStatebegan competing in the Big 10, one of the nation’s toughest cross-country conferences.  The Nittany Lions have finished as high as third four times (1992-1994, 2000), but are still seeking their first championship.  They have fared better in the NCCA Championships during that same time period, placing in the top 10 in 1991 and 1994. 
In all, Groves’ runners have earned 23 All-American honors, won seven Central Collegiate individual championships, two IC4A individual championships, and two NCAA Region II individual championships; Dan Mazzocco was Region II’s Cross-Country Champion and Athlete of the Year in 2003.
Groves, a two-time national cross-country coach of the year, retired after the 2005 season.  The U.S. Track and Field and Cross-Country Coaches Association named its Mid-Atlantic Region Cross-Country Coach of the Year Award in his honor, the first time such an honor has been bestowed on a coach.
Beth Alford-Sullivan, women’s cross-country coach since 2000, was named Groves’ successor.  The 2010 team finished 4th at the Big 10 Championships, 4th at the NCAA regionals, and 30th at the NCAA Championships.  Kyle dawson and Vince McNally both earned ASll-Big 10 and All-American honors.

Records Coming in Bunches

Coach Sullivan and our group's Director of Youth Development, Artie Gilkes confer during this weekend's Nittany Lion Challenge.  Many records have already been set this year.  I won't even list them, but you can see the official report here.  I will give a shout out to the sprinters this time though, both on the Men's and Women's sides!  Even this slowpoke recognizes speed when he sees it!

And I've included a great photo of former Lion great Larry Mangan, Coach Groves and one of the newest Nittany Lions, Olivia Mangan.

PSU Coaches Never Rest, (Well, almost never!)

Winter graduation ceremonies on Saturday and an absence of Underclassmen still didn't allow much rest for the Penn State Coaching Staff.  All except Coach Gondak gave instruction and tutelage to an eager bunch of 10-18 year-olds.  Coach Gondak was apparently sent on a reconnaissance mission to sunnier climes in order to evaluate conditions for my wife's upcoming Goofy Race.  I think that's it!

My oldest braved the drills and interval workout overseen by Coach Sullivan and Jess Riden, while my youngest learned starting techniques and hurdle basics from Coach Johnson and also did 6 X 100 M with nary a complaint!  Both slept well, may I add.  The PSU Staff is the hardest working staff in the nation!

Both Men and Women's Teams Advance to NCAA's

A second place finish by Kyle Dawson and a third place by Vince McNally paced the Lions. The  Men's and Women's teams finished fourth and third respectively at the Regionals. Both teams move on to The Big Dance.

Here's an interview with Coach Sullivan following the race.

Track and Field Videos on Flotrack