Feb. 11, 2011
Beth Alford-Sullivan - Weekend Preview
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa.: February 10, 2011 - The Nittany Lion track and field squads will compete away from home for the first time this weekend, traveling to a trio of high-powered meets across the country. Penn State, which was rated eighth on the men's side, and 19th among women'/s teams in the latest USTFCCCA rankings, will split its squads between the Tyson Invitational at the University of Arkansas, the Akron Invitational at the University of Akron, and the Flotrack Husky Classic at the University of Washington. All three competitions are slated for Friday and Saturday, February 11-12.
The Nittany Lions have been on a roll throughout the first month of the indoor campaign, already posting a trio of NCAA automatic-qualifying performances, including senior Shavon Greaves (Lakewood, N.J.) in the 200-meters (23.18), senior Ryan Foster (Tasmania, Australia) in the mile run (3:58.49), and sophomore Casimir Loxsom (New Haven, Conn.) in the 800-meters (1:47.36). All told, Penn State currently boasts over a dozen athletes with performances ranking among the top 20 efforts in Division I this year.
About the Tyson Invitational -
When: February 11-12, 2011
Where: Randal Tyson Track Center, Fayetteville, Ark.
First Event: Friday, 12:00 p.m., CST
Host Website: www.ArkansasRazorbacks.com
Meet Information: www.flashresults.com/
Nittany Lion Event Groups in Attendance: Sprints, Hurdles, Relays, Jumps
About the Flotrack Husky Classic -
When: February 11-12, 2011
Where: Dempsey Indoor, Seattle, Wash.
Host Website: www.GoHuskies.com
Meet Information: www.gohuskies.com/sports/c-track/spec-rel/020911aaf.html
Live Stream: www.Flotrack.org
Nittany Lion Event Groups in Attendance: Middle Distance and Distance
About the Akron Invitational -
When: February 11-12, 2011
Where: Akron, Ohio
First Event: Friday, 12:00 p.m., EST
Host Website (Including Live Stream Information): www.GoZips.com
Meet Information: http://www.gozips.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=10800&ATCLID=205092606
Nittany Lion Event Groups in Attendance: Throws, Jumps
Follow the Nittany Lions on Twitter and Facebook for updates from all sites throughout the weekend -
Twitter: @jessriden
Facebook: www.Facebook.com/pennstatecrosscountryandtrackandfield
So Far This Season -
Greaves, Eaton Earn Big Ten Athlete of the Week Honors...
Following an NCAA automatic-qualifying performance in the 200-meters at the Penn State National, Nittany Lion senior Shavon Greaves (Lakewood, N.J.) has been named Big Ten Athlete of the Week, announced by the conference on January 31. Greaves enjoyed a pair of second-place finishes against elite competition over the weekend, and also helped her team to victory in the 4x400-meter relay.
Senior Blake Eaton (Allegany, N.Y.) made good on his final appearance at Horace Ashenfelter III Indoor Track last weekend, winning the men's shot put at the Sykes & Sabock Challenge Cup, which was also worthy of Big Ten Athlete of the Week honors, announced by conference offices on February 7. Eaton is the first Nittany Lion to win the accolade on the men's side this season, and the first Penn State male to earn conference recognition since Ryan Fritz on May 12, 2010.
At the Sykes-Sabock Challenge Cup...
Both the Nittany Lion men's and women's track and field squads captured team titles, thanks to over a dozen victories, February 5, at the Sykes-Sabock Challenge Cup, at Horace Ashenfelter III Indoor Track. Among the bevy of outstanding performances were stellar victories from senior Blake Eaton (Allegany, N.Y.), who earned a victory in the men's shot put on his final attempt, as well as junior Caitlin Lane (Greenwich, N.Y.) and freshman Brady Gehret (Altoona, Pa.), who both enjoyed blue-ribbon performances for the third-straight competition.
The Nittany Lion men ran away with the team title, totaling 172 to nearly double up on Cornell in second place with 91 points. Princeton rounded out the top three with 64 points, while Liberty turned in a fourth-place effort with 59. On the women's side, the Nittany Lions fought off a highly competitive Cornell squad, to win the event title 154-130.50. Big East foe South Florida took third overall with 74 points, while East Carolina finished fourth with 67.
At the Penn State National...
Highlighted by a trio of athletes dipping under the four-minute barrier in the mile, a packed house at Ashenfelter III Indoor Track was treated to a slew of NCAA automatic-qualifying performances, several meet and facility records, as well as a pair of school records from the Nittany Lion squad, Saturday, January 29, at the Penn State National. Senior Ryan Foster (Tasmania, Australia) had a sensational afternoon, setting a new school record in the mile run with an NCAA automatic-qualifying 3:58.49, while teammates sophomore Casimir Loxsom (New Haven, Conn.) and senior Shavon Greaves (Lakewood, N.J.) also turned in automatic performances with Loxsom going 1:47.36 in the 800-meters, and Greaves sprinting to a season-best 23.18 in the 200-meters.
The Nittany Lions also enjoyed a record-setting run in the men's 4x400-meter relay, which combined to run a school-record 3:09.08, with the quartet of Lionel Williams (Staten Island, N.Y.), Loxsom, Brady Gehret (Altoona, Pa.), and Aaron Nadolsky (Altoona, Pa.). The record bettered the previous all-time Lion best 3:09.43, set by Brian Derby, Chris Lolagne, Jaret Campisi, and Ernie Terrell in 2003.
The Penn State National extended its streak to five-straight years of sub-4:00 performances, however, this marks the first year that more than one athlete has broken the barrier at the competition. Ohio State's Cory Leslie at 3:57.97, followed by former Buckeye Jeff See at 3:58.15.
At the PSU Northeast Challenge...
Junior Caitlin Lane (Greenwich, N.Y.) clocked a new Penn State record in the 1,000-meters, Saturday, January 15, at the Nittany Lion Challenge at Horace Ashenfelter III Indoor Track. Penn State also accounted for a pair of NCAA-leading marks (at press time), including Shavon Greaves (Lakewood, N.J.) in the 400-meters at 53.53, and the women's distance medley relay, which posted a finishing time of 11:42.36. Elsewhere, freshman Brady Gehret (Altoona, Pa.) set a meet record in the 200-meters for the second-straight week, while newcomer Doug Moppert (Malvern, Pa.) won the long jump in his first Penn State appearance. All told, the Nittany Lions, who are currently ranked eighth on the men's side, and 19th in the women's rankings, combined to set six meet records against an outstanding field, which included Florida, Albany, Cornell, and Maryland.
At the Penn State Relays...
Sophomore Casimir Loxsom (New Haven, Conn.) set new school and facility records in the 500-meters, propelling the Nittany Lion track and field teams to outstanding results at the Penn State Relays, Saturday, January 8, at Horace Ashenfelter III Indoor Track. Among a bevy of highlights, the Nittany Lions captured a grand total of 12 event victories, including a stellar clearance of 7-1.50 (2.17) by senior Bryson Hartzler (Belleville, Pa.) in the high jump. Loxsom - the 2010 IAAF World Junior silver medalist at 800-meters - dominated the 500 field, finishing in 1:01.28, to break Ben Karcz' 1:02.58, which has stood as the Penn State standard since 2000. Loxsom's performance also better the Ashenfelter Indoor record of 1:02.17, which was set by Villanova's Paul Moser in 2003. The Nittany Lions fared well in the event overall, with senior Lionel Williams (Staten Island, N.Y.) taking second place in 1:03.25.