March 13, 2009
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa.: March 13, 2009 - A grand total of six members of the Nittany Lion track and field team and coaching staff have earned United States Track and Field/Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) Mid-Atlantic Region awards, announced last night at the NCAA Indoor banquet at Texas A&M University. Among the award winners, Bridget Franek (Hiram, Ohio) and Ryan Foster (Tasmania, Australia) earned Mid-Atlantic Region Track Athlete of the Year laurels, while teammate Gayle Hunter (Riverside, Calif.) was named Mid-Athletic Region Field Athlete of the Year for the third-straight year. From the coaching staff, Director and Head Coach of Track and Field Beth Alford-Sullivan was named Mid-Atlantic Region Men's Head Coach of the Year, becoming the first women to receive the honor on the men's side. Chris Johnson and John Gondak also made the awards stand, earning Mid-Atlantic Assistant Coach of the Year honors, with Johnson winning on the women's side, and Gondak winning the men's assistant award.
In her third year at the helm of the PSU men's program, Sullivan led the Nittany Lions to new heights within the Big Ten, as Penn State finished third in the conference - the highest indoor finish in program history. Sullivan's team also saw Big Ten Championship finishes from Foster in the 800, and Clarence Smith (Coatesville, Pa.) in the triple jump. This season, eight Nittany Lions have posted NCAA qualifiers under Sullivan's watch, including Samuel Borchers (800m/1:48.90), Lionel Williams (800m/1:49.27), Foster (800m/1:49.68), Owen Dawson (800m/1:50.13), Kyle Dawson (5000/14:05.95), Ryan Fritz (HJ/7-2.25), John Vellenoweth (PV/17-0.75), Smith (TJ/52-4.50). Most recently, Sullivan led the Nittany Lion distance medley to a school-record and NCAA automatic-qualifying 9:32.94 at the Alex Wilson Invitational at Notre Dame.
Associate Head Coach Johnson continues to lead the Nittany Lion sprints, hurdles, and relays squad to new heights within the Big Ten Conference and on the national level. At the 2009 conference meet, Johnson-coached athletes dominated the sprints, winning the 60, 200, 400, and 4x400 relay, highlighted by a 60/200 double from sophomore Shavon GReaves. All told, Johnson's athletes have recorded eight NCAA qualifying performances, including Greaves in the 60 and 200, Fawn Dorr in the 400, Aleesha Barber in the 60 hurdles, and Hunter in the 60 hurdles, 400, and pentathlon, and the 4x400 relay. All four athletes are scheduled to compete individual at the NCAA Championships this weekend.
Gondak - a third-year assistant has guided the Penn State Middle Distance contingent to an outstanding 2009 campaign, highlighted by a one-two sweep of the 800 meters at the Big Ten Championship with sophomores Foster and Owen Dawson. Williams missed a Big Ten conference championship in the 600 meters by placing second by one hundredth of a second. All told, Gondak has led three athletes to NCAA Provisional performances in the 800 with Williams (1:49.27), Foster (1:49.68) and Dawson (1:50.13).
Franek is amidst a sensational indoor season, clocking automatic qualifiers in the 3K and 5K, and posting a near-automatic performance in the mile. Already a four-time NCAA All-American, Franek shows amazing range by posting marks of 4:38.63 (PSU Record), 9:10.04 (PSU Record) and 15:58.76. Franek was also a top finisher at the Big Ten Championships, recorded a second-place finish in the 5000 at the Washington Husky Classic, and recorded a mile win at the Sykes-Sabock Challenge Cup.
Foster has stepped into a starring role for the Nittany Lions in 2009. His victory in the 800 meters at last weeks Big Ten Championship continued a season where he has not lost a race. He has run 2:23.69 for the 1000 meters, 1:49.68 for the 800, 4:08.99 for the mile and anchored the US #3 ranked 4x800 relay this indoor season. His Big Ten Championship in the 800 helped Penn State to a best ever 3rd place team finish. Foster was also a member of the Lions' automatic-qualifying distance medley.
Hunter has established herself as one of the greatest all-around athletes in the country, as she is on NCAA list in five events. Hunter's 4236 pentathlon PR remains the NCAA leader, while she is also nationally ranked in the 400, 60 hurdles, 4x400, and long jump. Hunter racked in the points at Big Tens, helping her team to a second-place finish with a second-place effort in the pentathlon, fourth-place finishes in the long and triple jumps, and a fifth-place showing in the 60 hurdles. Hunter also ran the anchor leg on the winning 4x400.