Feb. 11, 2010
Tyson Invitational Meet Info/Results | Washington Husky Classic Meet Info | Akron Invitational Meet Info
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa.: February 10, 2010 - In their first road trip of the 2010 campaign, the Nittany Lion track and field teams will split their squads across the country this weekend, traveling groups to the Husky Classic at the University of Washington, the Tyson Invitational at the University of Arkansas, and the Akron Invitational at the University of Akron. All three competitions, which are set to feature top professional and collegiate athletes, are scheduled for Friday and Saturday, in Seattle, Wash., Fayetteville, Ark., and Akron, Ohio, respectively.
Nittany Lions at the Husky Classic
The Nittany Lion distance contingent will head to Seattle, poised for big performances against some of the nation's top competitors. Leading the way will be Penn State mid-distance duo Ryan Foster (Tasmania, Australia), and Casimir Loxsom (New Haven, Conn.), who currently own the No. 1 and No. 2 ranked times in the NCAA at 800-meters. Foster blitzed to a school record 1:47.48, which was also an Australian National Record, at the Penn State National two weeks ago, punching his ticket to the NCAA Indoor Championships with an NCAA automatic qualifier. Loxsom posted a PR and automatic-qualifying 1:47.98 at the same competition, to go along with his World Junior Best 1:16.92 for 600-meters, run on January 16. Foster and Loxsom, along with fellow middle distance specialists Owen Dawson (Coatesville, Pa.) and Lionel Williams (Staten Island, N.Y.), will take on an outstanding field in the 800, which is slated to include standout athletes from Oregon, Stanford, Texas, and Wisconsin, as well as an elite group of professionals from the Oregon Track Club.
Senior Bridget Franek (Hiram, Ohio) will pace the women's squad, coming off an NCAA provisional-qualifying 9:18.40 for 3,000-meters on January 30. Franek is no stranger to impressive performances in Seattle, having clocked an NCAA-automatic 16:03.40 in the 5000-meters at this meet a year ago. Franek would go on to finish fourth in the NCAA in the event as a junior. Joining Franek in the longer distances will be classmate Cheryl Spring (The Woodlands, Texas), who has already turned in a provisional-qualifying 9:27.41 in 3K this season.
Nittany Lions at the Tyson Invitational
The Nittany Lions sprinters will headline the Penn State effort in Fayetteville, with standouts Shavon Greaves (Lakewood, N.J.) and Fawn Dorr (Akron, N.Y.) set to compete. Greaves has put the nation on notice this winter, having clocked NCAA automatic marks in the 60- and 200-meters, as well as a provisional performance in the 400-meters. Greaves' school-record 7.24 in the 60 is the third-fastest effort in Division I this season, while her PR 23.16 in the 200 is second best in the NCAA, and third fastest in the world this year. Dorr has been rolling in the quarter mile and owns the sixth-fastest performance in Division I at 53.10. Also set to sprint are members of provisional-qualifying 4x400-meter relay squads Megan Duncan (North Huntingdon, Pa.), Caitlin Defusco (Schwenksville, Pa.), and Doris Anyanwu (Beltsville, Md.).
Nittany Lions at the Akron Invitational
Many of the Nittany Lions top throwers will make the short trip to the University of Akron, including NCAA automatic-qualifier Joe Kovacs (Nazareth, Pa.) and provisional performance Blake Eaton (Allegeny, N.Y.). Kovacs is currently ranked third nationally with a toss of 63-6.25 (19.36) in the shot put, while Eaton stands 12th at 60-10.50 (18.55). The duo ranks first and second among Big Ten competitors.
Log on to www.gopsusports.com for Nittany Lion recaps and full results following both days of competition at all three locations.