Alumni "Run" Overwhelming Triumph

I know, I'm running out of accolades.  But it really was.  There were twice as many participants as ever before not even counting the 40 NCAA qualified team members.  College Diner Stickies and Dunkin Donut coffee and donuts were available for everyone.

A huge crowd headed out for the 3 mile campus loop with the distance runners while the rest of us hung around and told stories and probably some tall tales.  There was some fun and games available as well as an incredible 60M hurdle demonstration (It will take me a while to download that video!)

The conversations were tremendous and those who didn't make it should realize that we probably talked about you because you weren't here!  I'll start herding cats again tomorrow, however.

Reunion Evening a Success

The Lion's Den was the scene of shenanigans for many a PSU Track Alum for decades now.  So it is fitting that it was the scene of 8 decades of PSU Track Alums meeting at the First Annual Penn State Track and Field Alumni Reunion.  The Track Program and the Varsity "S" Club were the host of a spread of food and drink of epic proportion that greeted nearly 100 athletes of just about every variety. I decided not to take pictures because I wanted to talk to as many people as possible. (Not easy for a wannabe hermit!)

My favorite parts were:

1. Meeting so many of my former teammates again from the late 70's and early 80's.
2. Meeting some of the current team including the incredible Throwers, who marveled at my PR Shot Put of 11 feet.
3. Meeting a pole vaulter from 1960 who marveled at my inability to carry a 16 foot pole down the runway.
4. Seeing 3 members of the 1950 NCAA Championship Cross Country team greeting their former teammate.
5. Finding out that Paul Mundy's grandfather ran in the 1932 10000M and the 1936 5000M Olympic Trials.
6. Seeing Coach Sullivan and all of the Assistant Coaches beaming proudly at the turn-out.
7. Meeting Horace Ashenfelter III for the very first time.
8. Seeing Keeper of the Beer Clark Haley drinking Diet Coke.  I warned him that it's poison to no avail!

Better Late Than Never

The 2011 winner of Horace The Golden Putter for the longest putt on Hole 18 at last year's tournament finally got to hold the beauty I promised him 364 days ago.  As an apology, he received a Bag of Holding from the Group Store .  And my apologies, of course...

Here's The Group's Exalted IT Czar, Jeff Sanden with Horace this very AM!

A Little Humor Prior to the Reunion Weekend

It's not always as it first appears!

Here's a drawing from a young student after they were prompted to make a drawing of their mom for Mother's Day.  The teacher sent a note home to mom with the photo.

Mom felt obliged to send a note back to the teacher!

See you all at the Lion's Den on Friday for the Reunion Evening and on the Links on Saturday!

For anyone who can't be there, just tip a glass of any beverage at 8:00PM (Eastern Time) on Saturday night to Coach Groves, Coach Sullivan (and the current team) and Horace Ashenfelter III.  It will be as if you are right there with us.  


You can also donate any amount of money to be used solely for the Coach Groves Scholarship Endowment by using the link on the right sidebar.  I personally guarantee strict adherence to Clark Haley's wishes on this matter unless you specifically identify the funds for use for blog expenses or other group activities.  Any amount is appreciated beyond anything you can imagine.

American Excellence: (A Post Just For Paul Mundy)

Harley-Davidson Motorcycles, many manufactured in humble little York, PA, are craved around the world.  And no wonder.  Here's one that happened to make a trip from north of Tokyo, Japan to the shores of Canada.  The owner was tracked down from the serial numbers and it turns out it was lost following the earthquake and tsunami disaster that preceded the second worst nuclear disaster in the world's history. (Although the locals here still have pride in Three-Mile Island.  "We're number 3, We're number 3!) The company is stepping up and fully restoring the bike before the owner gets it back.  I wonder if the owner will have to report that "extra mileage" if he wants to resell it?

Penn State Track and Field Alumni in Africa

I know of two Penn State Track Alums doing good works in Africa.  I have nothing but respect and admiration for both of them.

We all remember how gamely Munya Maraire handled a golf club for the very first time in our tournament.  He is now coordinating Track athletes in his native Zimbabwe. With great success, may I add.

Janet Norem is also on the big Continent, doing great Missionary works since 2002.  I posted her blog on the right sidebar which explains more than I can, but I recently put her to the test with a number of questions.  She has kindly responded:

 

Ok, here goes.  Since 2002 I’ve been part of a mission outreach team based first in Malawi (until 2008) and then Mozambique. The place where the team lives and works is your basic rural African village setting.  Among other things I’ve used my training in ag to try to help people eat more throughout the year and increase their incomes.  Midway into 2009 I had to return to the U.S. to help out my mom, and now I live in California and work for the team remotely.  I am able to make short trips (1-2 months) back to Mozambique; my next one is scheduled for  the last week in June.

1. What have been your most rewarding experiences?

 When we moved to Mozambique I was able to rent a place in a village, while the 2 families on our team rented houses in town and spent a year finding villages to move to and building houses there.  I spent much of that time with a mountain bike and a gps, traveling from village to village and mapping roads, trails and village locations and names (“Good morning! What is the name of this village?”).  That was a time when I often thought to myself, “I love my job!”  Beyond that it has been rewarding making friends with people in my village as well as neighboring villages.

2. What has been your most exciting experiences?

I’m not much of an adrenaline junkie, but most of my heart-pumping episodes have involved transportation, whether trying to keep my truck tracking straight over a log bridge, careening down a hill on the back of a bicycle taxi with the wind blowing alcohol fumes into my face, or nearly any trip involving a minibus.

3. The place you enjoyed the most?

One of my most miserable races and enjoyable vacations took place at the same place: Mount Mulanje in Malawi.

4. Did PSU Track/XC prepare you for any of your work?

Definitely.   Aside from learning how to handle chaos and dysfunction, I sponsored a running club in Malawi for about 3 years. 

5. Do you still run? 

Yup.  I’ve been a member of the San Luis Distance Club (San Luis Obispo, CA) for the past 20 years,   But I love running in Mozambique when I’m there: endless trails to run (and get lost) on.

6. Any thing you care to add. The canvas is blank (as is my mind!).

Everyone on our mission team runs, and this has not gone unnoticed by the locals.   Once the lady who washes my clothes was asked what the job of the white people was, and she answered quite seriously: “To run.”   

That's Janet on the bottom right at a 2008 Reunion of the Women's team.

The B1G Championships Were Loaded

In probably the deepest Big Ten Championships in years, PSU garnered some impressive victories.  Some Olympic "A" standards, Olympic Trials qualifiers and some top ten US times/distances were on view.  The Lions get a week off to strut their stuff in front of alums at next week's Reunion and Harry Groves Golf Tournament. You probably can still show up for the Reunion or Golf Tournament and be accommodated, as long as you are humble enough and show enough enthusiasm!

Big Ten Champions:

1. Laura Loht - Javelin  PSU is Javelin U
2. Kara Millhouse - 10000M  2 in a row
3. Mens 4 x 400M Relay  Dominated
4. Brady Gehret - 400M  Big PR, Olympic Trials Qualifier
5. Casimir Loxsom - 800M  3 in a row
6. Joe Kovacs - Shot Put  #1 College and #8 in the World

In honor of the Champions, here's a video of a laser setting a World Record.

Javelin Domination and Applied Physics

Laura Loht and Lauren Kenney placed 1 and 2 in the Womens Javelin for another 18 points to end the second day of the B1G Championships.  Laura's throw of 160' 11" on her final attempt surpassed Lauren's 159' 04".



And somehow it took Physicists to figure out the proper way to walk with a cup of coffee and not spill it. ( Hint: walk slower and don't fill it to the rim. )
Not quite Nobel quality stuff, I know.

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.

The Ten Commandments of the Coach Groves Golf Tournament

1. Thou shalt have no other Tournament but this one.  
2. Thou shalt ignore texts and emails and instant messages except in grave situations.
3. Thou shalt not covet Paul Mundy's driver, "The Beast".
4. Thou shalt not stretch the rules (too much) and shall abide by Coach Groves' modified Queensbury Rules.
5. Thou shalt never complain except to one's cart-mate.
6. Thou shalt not allow ball marks to remain, if you even can create one.
7. Thou golf shoe spikes shall be soft in nature.
8. Thou mulligans shall be used in only the neediest of situations.
9. Thou strings shall not be stretched beyond 12 inches.
10. Thou shalt return again next year to get thy name on thy Cup.

One Week Until the Coach Harry Groves Golf Tournament: Time For a Golf Tip

The 11th Annual Coach Harry Groves Golf Tournament is just a week away and you have not even retrieved your golf bag from the garage, where you'll discover it has been used as a squirrel's nest some time in the last year, and is filled with stink bugs again! (as Dave Barry used to say,  "I'm not making that up.")

You are in need of some golf tips, so let's get right to it with noted links expert, Dorf.

Time to Relax!

The hard work is done, and I have herded as many cats as I possibly could to the reunion this year.  Clark has me lined up to do a little work at the event, but I may have to sublet it all to my children.  This unrelenting blogging is tiring work!  I deserve a little rest...