April 12, 2011
Meet Info - Athletics Australia
MELBOURNE, Australia - Senior Ryan Foster (Tasmania, Australia) will vie for a spot at this summer's World University Games and IAAF World Championships, competing at the Australian Open & AWD Championships, to be held at Olympic Park in Melbourne, Australia, from April 15-17. The event will determine the country's selections for the pair of international competitions, with the IAAF World Championships set for August 27 - September 3 in Daegu, South Korea, and World University Games slated for August 12-23, in Shenzhen, China.
Foster has enjoyed an outstanding three years as a Nittany Lions, earning All-America honors on three occasions - most recently via a third-place finish in the mile run at the 2011 NCAA Indoor Championships. Foster, who will compete in his signature event - the 800-meters - in Australia, has also been a force at the conference level since coming to the states in 2008, winning four Big Ten 800-meter titles, including three-straight indoor victories.
"We're excited for Ryan to have the opportunity to represent his country and Penn State at the Australian Championships," said Director and Head Coach of Track and Field Beth Alford-Sullivan. "He goes in with the intention of competing internationally for his country and he's in great shape, so it will be exciting to see how he fares throughout the rounds. We couldn't be more proud of all he has accomplished wearing the Penn State uniforn and beyond."
Foster has already posted two stellar performances during the 2011 outdoor season, running a season-best 1:47.83 for 800 at the Florida Relays, which leads the Big Ten and currently stands third in Division I, and clocking 3:45.56 - the 2011 conference leader, and 15th-fastest mark in the country.
The competition will include a preliminary and final round in the 800, slated for Friday and Saturday. For more on Nittany Lion track and field, log on to www.GoPSUsports.com.