May 11, 2010
Link to Host Championship Page | Big Ten Performance List Complete Release in PDF Format
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Led by a wealth of nationally ranked competitors, the Nittany Lion men's track and field team will aim to make a splash in the team standings, this weekend at the Big Ten Outdoor Track and Field Championships at the University of Indiana. The Nittany Lions have been on fire all spring, bolstered by NCAA Top 10 performances from freshman Casimir Loxsom (New Haven, Conn.), juniors Ryan Foster (Tasmania, Australia), and Joe Kovacs (Nazareth, Pa.), and senior Ryan Fritz (Parkesburg, Pa.). The Nittany Lion men have also been on the rise in the United States Track and Field/Cross Country Coaches' Association (USTFCCCA) rankings, appearing in 22nd in the latest team standings.
About the Meet
Host: Indiana University
Facility: Robert C. Haugh Track and Field Complex at E.C. "Billy" Hayes Track
Host Website: www.IUHoosiers.com
Competing Teams (USTFCCCA Rank; 2009 Outdoor Finish)
Illinois (NR; 9th)
Indiana (NR; 10th)
Iowa (NR; 7th)
Michigan (NR; 3rd)
Michigan State (NR; 8th)
Minnesota (NR; 1st)
Ohio State (NR; 2nd)
Penn State (No. 22; 5th)
Purdue (NR; 4th)
Wisconsin (NR; 6th)
Foster, who has won three-straight Big Ten 800-meter titles, headlines a talented Nittany Lion middle distance contingent, including Loxsom, who currently stands second in the NCAA in the 800, as well as juniors Owen Dawson (Coatesville, Pa.) and Lionel Williams (Staten Island, N.Y.) - both NCAA All-Americans. The foursome, which finished third in the Penn Relays 4x800-meter relay, own four of the top six times in the conference 800 this spring, with Loxsom and Foster ranked first and second at 1:46.74, and 1:47.78, respectively. Foster also leads the conference at 1500-meters (3:41.26), while Dawson owns a top 10 performance in the event (3:45.42). Junior Samuel Borchers (Yellow Springs, Ohio) will also be in the hunt in the 1500, after winning the Big Ten crown in the event as a freshman in 2008.
The Lions also post some of the top performances among the field events, led by redshirt-sophomore Kovacs and junior Blake Eaton (Allegany, N.Y.), who are ranked first and second among conferences competitors in the shot put. Kovacs, who owns a season-best 61-5.50 (18.73), placed second in the event at the indoor conference meet before capturing bronze-medal honors at the NCAA Indoor Championships. Eaton, who was also an All-American indoors thanks to an eighth-place standing, has displayed consistent improvement throughout the outdoor season, recording a season-best 59-1.50 (18.02) at the Penn State Open last weekend. Also looking to turn in a scoring finish in the throws is senior Cory Eck (State College, Pa.), who is currently ranked sixth in the hammer and 10th in the discus. Eck's PR 194-7 (59.30) from a week ago is also ranks fifth on the All-Time Penn State Top 10 List.
Fritz is also highly ranked in the field, thanks to a season-best clearance of 7-2.40 (2.20) in the high jump last weekend. Fritz's mark currently ranks third in a stacked Big Ten field, and also ties his own personal outdoor best. The senior is already a two-time Big Ten Champion in the event. Senior Brad Lawrence (Voorhees, N.J.) is also in position for a scoring performance in the vertical jumps, entering the weekend with the eighth-best seed in the Big Ten field at 16-4.75 (5.00) in the pole vault.
The Championships are scheduled to begin with the men's decathlon, on Friday, May 14. For full recaps and results following all three days of competition. Log on to www.GoPSUsports.com.