Track and Field Makes For a Smaller and Better World

Just browsing the internet at some point yesterday and I came across this photo from the Dogwood Relays at some time in the late 70's or early 80's.

That's Patrick Davey with plaid shirt and the priceless smile.  Pat ran for Tennessee and happens to be one of the best photogs in the Track world.  We've used many of his beauties in past posts here. Pat also happens to be from Birmingham, MI, where I lived while a Resident at a Hospital 1/2 block from 8-Mile Road in Detroit.  Somehow, we have a lot of friends in common.

Which brings me to the gentleman on the right.  None of the guys in the photo probably knew Mike Conte prior to that weekend's meet, but that's kind of how Mike rolled.  Everybody had such a good time that Mike hung around for an additional two weeks.  Everybody there had good things to say about Mike's wandering track spirit.  That spirit eventually brought him to Podiatry School and my small circle of running friends while studying the "foot arts".

Mike was really good friends with my roommate Brad Toll (The world's greatest roommate, BTW) when I lived in Michigan, making the world smaller and smaller, better and better.  The coincidences with this photo are extraordinary, and I jealously refuse to believe they are anything short of God's way of telling me something. I roll like that.  This is the third time He has purposely told me something.  Each of the other 2 times, I was changed in monumental ways, and I can't wait to find out what is in store for me this time.  But I'm not sure yet what it means.  It has something to do with Friends and Family though.

Dr. Mike Conte died a few year's ago at a triathlon in Allentown.  I think Brad was there with him at the time.  This photo brought a smile to both me and Brad, and will be sent along to Mike's parents, bringing an even bigger smile.  He really was one-of-a-kind.

Just Over a Week To Go

Coach Gary Schwartz

Until the 2nd Annual Penn State Track and Field/Cross Country Alumni Reunion and the 12th Annual Coach Harry Groves Golf Tournament.

Final details are being worked out and, yes, there is still time to beg and bribe your way into attending.  Contact Jess Riden or The Varsity "S" Club to inquire.

Some highlights of the Events:

1. Reception at The Lion's Den on Friday night May 17, 2013.  Open bar and a great spread of food awaits.  A putting contest will be held on the patio to raise monies for the Coach Groves Scholarship Endowment. 
2. Alumni "Run" and meet the team on the track at 9:00AM on Saturday May 18, 2013.  Fun, frivolity, a campus warm up run with the team, a "rabbited" mile run for the frisky, and coffee and donuts for the less frisky.  I'll even extend the putting contest to the infield of the track and will even accept IOUs!
3. 7th Annual Climb of Mt. Nittany at Noon on Saturday May 18, 2013 for those not golfing. Details to be available at the Friday Reception.
4. A Guided Tour of the All-Sports Museum for non-golfers who don't want to brave the wilds of Mt. Nittany.  Details at the Friday Reception.
5. Putting and Chipping Contest/ 50-50 Raffle for the real golfers at the former Elks Club Golf Course at 10:30AM sharp.
6. The 12th Annual Coach Harry Groves Golf Tournament at 12:00PM on the former Elks Club Course.  This is the only chance to be enshrined on the Coach Groves Cup!
7. The Awards Dinner will be held at 6:30PM on the Field Events/Throws area of the Horace Ashenfelter Indoor Complex.  This will be catered by the Penn State Food Service.  There will be an Open Bar at the beginning.
8. Several Speakers have been lined up.  Former Coach Gary Schwartz has traveled from the far reaches of Arkansas and not just to fish!  Possibly we will have a appearance by Wrestling Coach Cael Sanderson, quite a dynamic orator.  Coach Groves will, of course, add a one paragraph speech as is his style!  Coach Alford-Sullivan and possibly Coach Gondak will say a few words also.  The prizes will be awarded by a chipper Clark Haley and Harry Smith.  I hope to refrain from speaking this year.

Coach Cael Sanderson

I Think If You Beg, They'll Let You Come

Looking through the names of those who will be attending the 2nd Annual Penn State Track/XC Alumni Reunion and 12th Annual Coach Groves Golf Tournament, we have ONLY 7 decades represented so far.  That's just one decade short of last year's total. There is still time.  I bet that if you beg someone with authority (and that's not me!), you'll still be embraced with open arms.

The hard-core perennials of the golf are back, with a delightful smattering of recent grads and even some from the 90's.  And we called them "the lost decade".  Maybe they'll prove us wrong finally.  And maybe one will finally get their name on the ultimate Prize, The Coach Harry Groves Memorial Cup.  Hint: It's not a Cup and Coach can still kick your a**. So behave!

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Some People Have a Better View From Their Office Window Than I Do

Since my view is of nothing!  I have my office on the bottom floor of a Medical Complex and don't have a window to the outside.  Seasonal Affective Disorder may account for many of my problems.  But not ex-Javelin tosser Todd Leggett.  Not by a long-shot...

The view from Todd's Office Window.  Lucky bas...

Send me a photo of a good view from your workplace, especially if you can top his photo.  And I'll try another Quiz on the left sidebar, but they haven't been working well lately.  Have you ever been to the top of the Empire State Building?

It's Big Ten Week!

New School Record Holder Jon Hendershot

There are some really good things to watch at this week's Big Ten Championships on the Men's side.  They have a strong presence in the Middle Distances, of course, but there are some strengths present all around.  The Shot Put and Discus and Javelin are areas of optimism, as is the horizontal jumps.  PSU is well represented in these areas.  And we won't forget the vertical jump, as Jon Hendershot set a school record last week at 7' 3.25". I wish I had enough leisure time to venture to Ohio to watch, but alas, the bacon is harder and harder to bring home nowadays!

I'll be checking up on the activities throughout the weekend though.  Good Luck Lions.

NCAA Leaders Prior to the Big Ten Championships

From our Morale Officer, here are some Nittany Lions high on the form charts* for the upcoming NCAA Regionals:

Javelin:      Lauren Kenney   3rd

                 Laura Loht          8th

800 M      Casimir Loxsom   3rd

                 Ricky West          7th

                 Brannon Kidder   9th

1500 M    Robbie Creese     7th

* As of May 1.

Four Brothers and Four Sisters

Since the Quiz seems to have fallen with a resounding thud, I better follow up with a post some of you may be interested.in.

I'm never sure which of them I'm talking to, but there are 4 of them.  The Fuller Brothers have now all graduated from The Pennsylvania State University.  I think their names are Huey, Dewey, Louie and Spike*. It's kinda the end of some sorta era.  Or something?

Two of them, I'm not sure which, will rabbit some of the "older" among us at the Alumni "Run" at the Reunion on Saturday May 18 at 9:00AM on the outdoor track. They will be sporting their Alumni Singlets, as will at least a dozen others.  Why don't you come join us.  It don't cost nothing.**

The Fuller Brothers

* Brian, Mark, Kevin and John.

**  I think this event is totally free and will give you a chance to interact with many of us away from the cut-throat environment of the golf course.  Running, like the golf, is always optional!

And these four sisters may be too old for the Fuller Brothers, but they were somewhat hot when they started in 1975.  They posed in the same order in photos every year since 1975.  The photos have been removed from the internet by request of the photographer's representative, but many of them can be viewed at the link to the Museum of Modern Art.

"Being an only child, it was really gratifying and lovely to be embraced by this family. There's still a ground water of affection, and support. I look back at these thirty-some pictures and it's like they're of my sisters. I can feel myself getting old with them. And I'm part of them; they're part of my love."  -Nicholas Nixon, 2013.

A Nonsensical Cartoon Quiz Just For The Heck of It

And a t-shirt if you attend the alumni reunion.

The first person to get all of them right in the comments will win a t-shirt if they also attend the track alumni reunion.  No fair consulting the internets!  It's honor system people.

1.  What was Speed Racer's chimpanzee's name?

 

2.  The little fellow is Augie Doggie.  What is his father's name?

 

3.   What is my full name?

 4. Who are we?

5.  Who was my really politically incorrect houseboy?

Just Because You Can Go Home Again...

Doesn't Mean Anyone Will Know You.

Actually a total of 2 people did know me.

I traveled to dear 'ole Dover High School, scene of my teenage triumphs (on the track only!) to watch my daughter's York Suburban team take on my Dover Eagles.  Also on the track was the Camp Hill Lions for a nifty tri-meet.

I did find friend Ron Bair before the meet started who was a teammate of mine and was there to escort his daughter Olivia during the Senior Day activities. He was the only person from Dover who recognized me and it was good to see his daughter Olivia Bair was an 800 M runner!

But there was a big PSU presence at the track even in the middle of bucolic rural York County.  Camp Hill's coach Mike Barndt was apparently a former PSU trackster.  I didn't get a chance to talk with him though.

And lo and behold, there was my teammate all 4 years at PSU, Mark Haywood.  There aren't too many people I've run more miles with than Mark, and it's always good to see him.  He may be able to attend our festivities next year as his daughter Katy Haywood will be moving on to college.  Mark follows his daughter's track exploits closely and she happens to be quite good at an activity neither Mark or I have ever attempted, the pole vault.  She had 3 good attempts at 10' 6" while I watched, each one of them with more than enough height for much higher results.  My advice to her was "Trust the pole" as if I know anything at all about the event.  I think I heard Don Skerpon say that once. Sounded good to me.  Remember though, I was unable to carry his 16' pole down the runway, so I never was able to see what pole vaulting was like.

The Golden Putter Takes A Vacation!

Last year's winner of the Golden Putter, Dennis Hendershot, father of PSU's vertical specialist Jon Hendershot brought Horace to Myrtle Beach for a little green action.

Actually Horace only made an appearance, as Dennis putts from the left side and some Idiot Officer never anticipated something as dangerous as that.  The Putter will be available for the Coach Groves Putting Challenge at the Reunion.  At least for those of us who putt from the correct side!

An IC4A Victory in the 4 x 400 Relay Isn't Anything to Sneeze At

I think that PSU didn't qualify for the Championship of America 4 x 400 Relay at Penn because the leadoff man Aaron Nodolsky pulled a hamstring on the backstretch in the qualifier.*  He still gamely soldiered on and the team still manged to qualify for the IC4A Finals, which is for the fastest qualified teams not making the COA.  PSU then won the heat in going-away fashion with a good time.  Steve Shisler made a great video of the IC4A Finals where his son Alex Shisler ran another 46.0 split as the second leg.  Not bad for a Freshman on one of Track's greatest platforms.  This also enhances three generations of Shisler's at Franklin Field. Here's Alex's grandfather Earl Shisler at Penn...

*Blog fact checkers will be all over me if any of these facts are wrong!  I think that's the way qualifying works at Penn, anyway.

And here's the 2013 IC4A 4 x 400 Relay Video:

Einstein Would Want You To Go To The PSU Track Alumni Reunion and Golf Outing

And He Was Always Right!

 

It is time to get your entry in for the shenanigans occurring at the Lion's Den on Friday night May 17, the Alumni "Run" and the Mt. Nittany Climb or Golf Tournament on Saturday May 18th.  Don't forget the Awards Dinner on Saturday night, either.