Feb. 4, 2011
Heat Sheets (Subject to Change) | Final Time Schedule | USTFCCCA Rankings |
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa.: February 4, 2011 - The Nittany Lion track and field squads will compete at Horace Ashenfelter III Indoor Track for the final time this season, hosting the Sykes & Sabock Challenge Cup on Saturday. Penn State will also recognize its 2011 senior class, holding "senior recognition" at approximately 11:50 a.m. The meet will also feature the Nittany Lions' first annual fundraiser -for breast cancer research - Run Pink, Jump Pink, Throw Pink.
About the Sykes & Sabock Challenge Cup:
Where: Ashenfelter III Indoor Track
When: January 28-29, 2011
Start Times: 5:45 p.m. (Friday); 10:00 a.m. (Saturday)
Competing Teams:
Buffalo
Cal St. Los Angeles
Coastal Carolina
Cornell
East Carolina
Jacksonville
James Madison
Liberty
Lock Haven
Penn State
Princeton
Rutgers
South Florida
UNC-Wilmington
About "Dutch" Sykes and Ralph Sabock:
The Sykes & Sabock Challenge Cup is named after two long-time Penn State track and field officials. "Dutch" Sykes was the Intramural Director and Dr. Ralph Sabock a professor in the Department of Kinesiology during their Penn State tenures. Both men served for over 30 years as Penn State Track and Field and Cross Country officials working as clerk of the course, starter and finish judge. They officiated NCAA Championships, all regular season meets, Special Olympics, and physically challenged events. Dr. Sabock's book "Coaching" is still used as a text at Penn State. This resident cup is in honor of their dedicated love for Penn State Track and Field and to the students of Penn State University. It will be displayed in a prominent location in the Multi-Sport Complex. Both Mr. Sykes, and Dr. Sabock are now deceased, with Mr. Sabock passing away on Jan. 2, 2010. The competition is now held in their memory.
Last Time Out:
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, last Saturday 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 was the event winner at 3:57.97, followed by former Buckeye Jeff See at 3:58.15. Foster's effort bettered Samuel Borchers's (Yellow Springs, Ohio) 4:01.98 school record from 2008. Foster is also the second athlete in Penn State history to break 4:00 indoors or outdoors, joining Larry Mangan, who ran 3:58.4, outdoors in 1980. Leslie and Foster are now ranked second and third in the NCAA in the event, following only Indiana's Andy Bayer at 3:57.75.