Feb. 1, 2010
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa.: February 10, 2010 - Coming off school-record and NCAA-automatic qualifying performances in their respective events, Nittany Lion juniors Ryan Foster (Tasmania, Australia), and Shavon GReaves (Lakewood, N.J.) have earned Big Ten Track Athlete of the Week citations, announced by the conference on Monday. Both Nittany Lion athletes are garnering the conference award for the second time in 2010.
Foster highlighted what was one of the most hotly contested events of the entire meet on Saturday - the men's invitational 800-meters. Foster blitzed to a victory in heat one of the event, with a sizzling NCAA-leading effort of 1:47.48, bettering the NCAA automatic standard by over half a second. Foster's mark was also good for new meet, facility, and Penn State records, as his impressive run bettered from Nittany Lion Ray Levitre's 1:48.19, set in 1987. Foster, who set school and facility records in the 1000-meters two weeks ago, would also claim his second Australian National Indoor Record in as many appearances, besting the previous record of 1:47.9, which has stood in 1969. Teammate Casimir Loxsom (New Haven, Conn.) would clock 1:47.98 in the second heat of the 800, also bettering the NCAA automatic qualifier. After the weekend, the Nittany Lions stand No. 1, and No. 2 nationally in the 800.
Greaves, who already sat third in the NCAA in the 60, motored to a school-record 7.25 in the 60 semi-finals at the Penn State National last weekend, finishing second-to-only St. Augustine's Barbara Pierre, who clocked a blistering 7.18 - the second-fastest time in the world this year - to set a new facility record. Greaves' mark bested Nittany Lion great Connie Moore, who clocked 7.27 in 2004, and an NCAA automatic qualifier. Greaves wasn't finished, however, resetting her own Penn State best, and NCAA leader 90 minutes later, with a scorching 7.24 to finish second in the final. After excelling in the 60 on Friday, Greaves continued to shine, winning the invitational 200-meters in an NCAA automatic 23.16, which is also a new meet and facility record. Greaves is currently the second-fastest collegian in the one-lap 200, as well as the 60. Greaves would also run the third leg of the winning 4x400-meter relay, helping the Penn State quartet finish in 3:37.57 - the Lions' fastest performance of the year, and sixth-best in the NCAA
The Lions will make their final regular season appearance at Ashenfelter III Indoor Track this weekend, hosting the Sykes-Sabock Challenge Cup on Feb. 5-6.