PSU Is 800U: B1G Edition

 5 of 8 Women finalists at the Big Ten Indoor Championships are PSU athletes tomorrow.

Victoria Tachinski

Penn State

2:07.12Q

2

SR

4

Allison Johnson

Penn State

2:07.58Q

4

FR

5

Victoria Vanriele

Penn State

2:06.34q

3

SO

6

Rachel Gearing

Penn State

2:06.85q

1

SR

7

Madaline Ullom

Penn State

2:07.67q

PSU Is 800U: XX Chromosome Division*

*Labeling people as either Men or Women isn't easy anymore, and gets you in trouble with someone no matter how you try to do it.  As a Biology PSU grad, I tend to think in terms of 2 sexes.  As a skinny geek back in the day, I was extremely good at not being able to get the time of day from one of those sexes.  I only discovered the key to getting younger members of the one sex to talk to me in my late 30s while walking my Shih Tzu puppies on Campus from my Efficiency apartment on College Avenue.  Those were the days.  Puppies, nerds, puppies.

But if we can pretend to all agree that there are 2 divisions of athletes in the NCAA that compete against each other, things become a little clearer.  Let's call them Men and Women just so old-timers can be in on the discussions.

For a sizable time frame, the Men at PSU have been the prime drivers of the PSU is 800U phenomenon.  This entails not only the 1980s Penn Relays Record Holders, and the 2000s or so School Record holders, but NCAA champions going back to the 1920s.

It sure is fun seeing what's happening with the Womens 800M runners this year at dear ole State. This is quite literally one of the great outcomes from the 1970s adoption of the Title IX legislation.

Four Nittany Lions have been ranked among the best in the NCAA so far this year in the Indoor Track rankings.

2

Johnson, Allison

FR-1

Penn State

2:02.84

Music City Challenge

8

Tachinski, Victoria

SR-4

Penn State

2:03.83

Music City Challenge

14

Gearing, Rachel

SR-4

Penn State

2:04.22

Music City Challenge

27

Vanriele, Victoria

SO-2

Penn State

2:04.96

Music City Challenge

Looking forward to the Penn Relays!  Hope they bring out the old school singlets for this one!

20th Annual Alumni Reunion And Coach Harry Groves Golf Tournament

 

20^th Annual Penn State Track and Field Alumni Gathering / Harry Groves Golf Outing

(MAY 13 – 14, 2022)

As I normally start these invites, let me first apologize to anyone receiving this notification that may not be interested in attending this event – we’ve done what we could to screen / purge addresses, but unfortunately, it’s not full-proof…                     

This year, the opening reception and dinner will take place at two different venues with the Days Inn closing its doors.  We have moved the host hotel to the Graduate (the old Atherton Hotel at 125 South Atherton Street) – where we have blocks of rooms reserved there for $129 / night (held until April 13) – (reference the Penn State Track and Field Alumni gathering) – phone number there is (844) 888- 4723 (Sara Ghazi is the contact).  As an alternative, the Ramada (1450 South Atherton St – (814) 238-3001) usually has rooms available around $115 (there is no block reserved there however, because we have not had enough people stay there in the past for them to block anything off(!)) –   

FRIDAY’S (MAY 13^th) EVENTS:                                                                                                                                                                                                                      

7:00pm – 10:00pm   Meet and Greet cash bar (hors d ‘oeuvres will be provided) - The Graduate Hotel                                                                                                                                    

50-50, Putting contest, other games TBD (bar crawl sure to follow)

SATURDAY (MAY 14^th) EVENTS: 

9:00am – 10:30am   - The Numbnutz Alumni Triathlon held at the outdoor track – Scoring will be 5 for first, 3 for

second, 1 for third – winner determined by most points earned in all three events (Events yet to be    determined but accepting any crazy ideas you may have!).    

12:00pm – 5:30pm   The Golf outing will be held at the Mountain View Country Club (old Elks Club) again this

year with the putting contest taking place at 11:15.  If you need clubs, there are always folks bringing extra sets so you don’t have to worry about renting (be sure to let us know when you register, so we can plan to have them there).

1:00pm – 3:00pm   Activities for those not golfing (Depending upon weather and volunteers), we will have a

group gathering to hike Mt. Nittany or take a campus tour (either to the Creamery or the Sports Museum (may be an additional cost)).  Meeting spot(s) and tour guide(s) to be announced Friday night – leaving from the hotel lobby.  Vivian Riddick will not be attending this year because her daughter is graduating so we’re looking for volunteers!

7:00pm – 10:00pm   Dinner reception and awards ceremony for golf outing will take place at THE HYATT PLACE 

(219 West Beaver Avenue)

 

Costs / Fees:

$450 / FAMILY (all under one roof) – All Events                                                                                                                  $400 / FAMILY – Saturday only – All Events                                                                                                                                         

 $400 / FAMILY – All Events (with only one golfer)                                                                                                                 $250 / FAMILY – Both Nights – No Golf                                                                                                                                  $200 / FAMILY – Friday Night Only                                                                                                                                         $350 / SENIOR (67 or Older) FAMILY – All Events      $300 (with only one golfing)                                                      $250 / SENIOR FAMILY – All Events - No Golf                                                                                                                       $300 / PERSON – All Events                                                                                                                                                      $200 / PERSON – All Saturday Events                                                                                                                                      $150 / PERSON – All Events – No Golf                                                                                                                                     $100 / PERSON – Golf only                                                                                                                                             

$250 / SENIOR PERSON – All Events                                                                                                                                      $175 / SENIOR PERSON – All Saturday Events                                                                                                                      $150 / SENIOR PERSON – All Events – No Golf                                                                                                                      $100 / SENIOR PERSON – Golf Only                                                                                                                               FLYING IN – DROP $100 off your fees                                                                                                                                     

 RECENT GRAD (past three years) – DROP 25% off your fees                                                                                             

 OLYMPIAN – COMPLEMENTARY – and thanks for attending!                                                                                           

 PAYING BY PAYPAL – WILL ADD $10 to cover the fees  Must go to the full website for the PayPal buttons at the very top.  Choices galore!                                                                                                    

 QUESTIONING THE METHODOLOGY BEHIND THE COSTS – DOUBLE YOUR CHARGE                                                      

NON- REFUNDABLE FEES – IF YOU CANCEL, OR IF THERE IS A WEATHER RELATED CANCELATION – ALL MONIES WILL THEN BE CONTRIBUTED DIRECTLY TO THE PENN STATE TRACK PROGRAM                                                            

This event is open to men, women, and friends (or enemies) of PSU alumni and of course the Alumni themselves - the more the merrier!  This is all about the laughs and brother/sisterhood.  Remember, when it comes to considering golf, you will have three other hackers on your team to laugh at so don’t worry about how bad your game is! 

Donations / Gifts are happily accepted if you would like to help us defer some of our costs as we contribute all proceeds to the current program.

Please send checks or money orders to:

Harry Smith                                                                                                                                                                                          2040 Central Grove 

Toledo, OH  43614

PayPal option available again this year on the top of the full Blog/website   – if utilizing PayPal it will include another $10 to your total as mentioned above to defer the extra charges.

If you should have any other questions or comments, please let me know – Hope to see you this year!     

Clark Haley ’85   (484) 716-8517

Clarkehaley@yahoo.com

Some Notes On The Early Indoor Season Happenings

 I haven't been able to get to any meets yet this year, but there are some interesting things happening already with the teams and alums.

• Women's 800M - Freshman Allison Johnson ranks #1 in the early season with her 2:04.03 and Senior Victoria Tachinski right behind her in 6th with 2:04.68
• Rachel Gearing and Victoria Vanriele add 21st and 23rd rankings in the 800M which makes for a very robust 4 x 800M relay squad.
• Allison Johnson backs up her 800M with an additional #1 ranking in the 1000M and a #17 in the Mile!
  
• The Men have 2 Freshman 800M runners with 1:49 times in their young seasons, Olivier Desmeules and Darius Smallwood.
• Evan Dorenkamp won a highly contested 1 Mile with the nation's #14 time with a Nittany Lion #3 all-time of 3:57.15. He also has the nation's #2 time in the 1000M!
• Freshman Korbin Martino blistered a 46.57 400M for an 11th NCAA best.
• Alum Colin Abert ran a 7 second PR in the 3000M, dipping under 8:00 for the first time.
  

Nittany Lions In The Top Ten For 2021 According To TFN

 The Bible of the sport...

American Top Ten Performers:

• 200M        Terrance Laird     #6
• 800M        Isaiah Harris        #4
• 800M        Brannon Kidder   #5
• Shot Put    Joe Kovacs          #2
• Shot Put    Darrell Hill          #3
• Hammer    Morgan Shigo     #6
• Javelin       Michael Shuey    #2
• 400H          Kiah Seymour    #10
• Shot Put     Rachel Fatherly  #9

World  Top Ten Performers:

• 200M         Terrance Laird    #9
• Shot Put     Joe Kovacs         #2
• Shot Put     Darrell Hill         #7

Athlete Of The Year:

•  Joe Kovacs         #7
  

Book Your Hotel Room For The 20th Reunion Before The Rooms Are All Gone!

Clark Haley is firming up commitments for the upcoming extravaganza of the 20th Annual Penn State Track and Field/XC Alumni Reunion and Coach Harry Groves Golf Tournament.

It can't be emphasized enough the burden of these arrangements and their ever increasing complexities present each year.  The impact of our virus-ridden society is only doubling these complexities, as the hotel/hospitality sector is one of the most injured sectors of all.  Job losses and inflation are combining to make bookings exceedingly difficult and expensive.

But your intrepid brain trust of Officers are at it, most of all Founder Clark Haley.  We will get this done, and at costs as reasonable as possible.

One of the most reasonable costs will be your hotel rooms at the newest Event Hotel, The Graduate on Atherton St. just south of College Avenue.  The old Atherton Hotel hosted my wedding reception in 1988, and it was a very fine shindig.

Clark has arranged a block of rooms for just our members at the incredible price of $129. The cut-off date is April 13. Anyone booking hotel rooms lately will understand that these won't last long.  So get your bookings in as we finalize all the details of a great weekend!

Book Here Now!!!!

800U Reuniting!

 

With the news that Isaiah Harris has moved on from Nike to join the Brooks Beasts, a significant portion of 800U's record setters are reunited as well.  Brannon Kidder has been with them since early on and former World-Best Indoor 600m champion Cas Loxsom had been with them earlier.  Isaiah and Brannon were 4th and 5th at the last Olympic Trials.

 Sun Journal Article

Citius Mag Podcast with Isaiah

2021 Performance of the Year

There weren't very many nominations from our members this year, but it did include some quality performances.  The Interns decided not to poll members of the group for the winner this year and decided to take their meager paychecks and devote it all to an extravagant New Year's Eve Party last night. Now they want money from me to clean it up.

I had asked them to give me the listing yesterday, but they refused. I knew something was up, but was tired of dealing with the rowdy bunch and went to bed.

Alas, we finally got word from the email listserv which serves as the Premier Home of Penn State Track Alumni, that Ken Cooper had done the miraculous at the last minute.  His 35th straight calendar year of running a sub-5:00 mile came on New Year's Eve.  I will let Ken tell his story told via the email listing...

For those that like a story - The guy who paced me to my 5:00.53 on 12/20 told me on Wed that he would not be able to pace me again as he contracted COVID.  Fortunately I had reached out to my high school coach (who is still the coach at Mounds View) earlier in the week and asked for a couple of more pacers.  I thought being tucked behind multiple guys would be helpful.  I got a guy who is a former walk on at Purdue and is still fit and a guy who runs for U of North Dakota.  It was 9F so we warmed-up inside.   I am usually a guy who sticks to my plan, but I made a last second change and put spikes on for the first time since September.  If Lukas (Pacer #1) was going to wear them, then so shall I.  Calves be damned.

 

It was pretty cool as my dad and high school coach timed and gave splits.  There were 4 other MV coaches/alums there to see it and the many from the Bethel team (local D3 school coached by Andrew Rock) basically stopped practice to watch.  Some of them were former Mounds View state champs and knew the coaches so they learned what I was doing. 

 

We started with Lukas as rabbit then me then 2 recent alums behind me.  We went out hot.  The beauty of have so many people there that are coaches is that I got a 100m split for the fist time in my career.  Went through in 16 secs.  But it felt really comfortable.  That said, we slowed down and came through in 35 secs for the first 200, which was still hot.  I remember Coach saying 4:40 pace be smart.  We slowed and came through the 400 in 74 secs.  Really comfortable.  Feeling good.  The two guys behind me dropped off at 400 so it was me and Lukas.  I just sat on him.  We came through the 800 in 2:28, so another 74.  It felt like we stepped it up on lap 5, which I as fine with as it helped me avoid getting soft.  I cant remember what we came through in lap 5, but we came through 1200 in 3:41/3:42, at which time Lukas dropped off (which was not a surprise), but the other guy was not there, which was.  Not a big deal as there were enough folks around the track to keep me engaged, particularly on the far corner where the Bethel team was.  I came through lap 7 in 4:20/4:21 and knew I had it.  I mustered as much of a kick as I could.  A blistering 36/37 last 200.     

 

The hammy held up well.  I have been doing several eccentric strength building exercises since I tweaked it the 20^th and that seemed to do the trick.  Interestingly, I did one last PT session on Wed.  The PT was convinced my hammy issue is caused from somewhere else.  She is probably right.  She actually honed in on my lymph nodes as preventing proper circulation as a result of COVID back in April.  She did some massage of 6 area of lymph nodes.  It did actually help the hammy feel better so will do those for awhile.

 

I appreciate you all taking such a vested interest in the streak.  This past week, I was wondering how many sub 5’s I/we have done over our careers.  I can recall some 5 x mile on the track and all were done well under 5 with 3 mins rest.  Splits in races.  There were times we did them in our sleep.  Yesterday,  I just wanted one more.  You guys helped inspire me to do this over the past month when on paper, at age 50 with no intense training in the preceding 4-6 months, I really had no business getting there.

 

I have zero plans to wait this long again.  I fully expect to check the box some time this indoor season.

 

Then I will look to drop a 55 at Penn with R.B., Kletter, Che and Jake.  Anyone else want in?

 Happy New Year Fellas.

 

So, the final standings of the 2021 Performance of the Year:

1. Ken Cooper's 4:57.61 mile to complete his 35th straight calendar year with a sub-5 mark.
2. Joe Kovac Silver Medal at Olympics in Tokyo.  His second.
3. Michael Shuey makes Olympic team with second place finish.
4. Isaiah Harris wins a Diamond League 800M race
   

Merry Christmas To Everyone

 Let's make 2022 our biggest year ever!

Mark Heckel Still At The Top Of His Game

 Mark Heckel has been voted as the recipient of the Horace Crow Award as the Outstanding Field Event Official for 2021 from the USATF National Officials Committee.

As a teammate and dorm mate of "Beef", as we knew him, for 2 years at North Halls at PSU, I can say that he is among those I visualize first when I say that PSU Track Alums are the most interesting, intelligent and accomplished people I have ever known.  With Mark, I will add driven.

Congratulations Mark, although I still don't know if you can golf!

 

RIP CJ Hunter

Former PSU shot putter and school indoor record holder C J Hunter has passed away in North Carolina. He was the 1999 World Champion and finished 7th in the Olympics in 1996.

Coach Groves asked us to invite him to our Reunion several times, but we were unable to contact him. 

 

 

Updates From All Over And A "Save The Date"

First up:

Our Chief Laundry and Morale Officer facilitated reception of the news of another Ohio Big School XC title for Coach Tom Rapp's team.

That's 3 titles for teammate and classmate Tom, 2008. 2014, 2021!

And I can deduce that each and every "kid" who Tom coaches is much better off for his tutelage. From the initial meeting and run we had together, it was obvious he had great things ahead of him. Despite having a personality not completely in line with Coach Groves, the no-nonsense old school methods molded Tom and the rest of us into people able to handle most every situation ahead of us.  

This year's high school team probably garnered extra rewards of wisdom from Tom, as he describes them as a unit of good, solid runners, no superstars.  The top two finished 19th and 20th. But they had by far the best 4th and 5th men. They had a 1-5 spread of 28 seconds, with the 6th man 2 seconds behind that.

All in all,  it was a great lesson for the kids on how to win as a team. Society will see dividends in the years ahead!

 https://www.cincinnati.com/story/sports/high-school/high-school-sports/2021/11/11/ohsaa-cross-country-healthy-mason-boys-team-wins-state-2021/6382136001/

Second:

Colin Abert toed the line at the Road US Championship 5k in NYC the day before the NYC Marathon. He came in 22nd overall with a time of 14:18.

And SAVE THE DATE! 

The Executive Committee meeting of the Officers of the Group convened and chose the dates for the 2022 Reunion and Coach Groves Golf Tournament.  This will be the 20th anniversary of the formulation of this whole shebang, and you better SAVE THE DATE!!

So set aside May 13th and 14th, 2022. (Each year will alternate between May and August)

We will be going all out for this event and you won't want to miss it.  Adult beverages, camaraderie with old and new friends, mediocre golf, AND LIVE MUSIC FROM PROFESSIONALS!  Stay tuned...