UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa.: September 7, 2012 - Nearly 1,000 collegiate and high school athletes will take to the turf this weekend, racing in the annual Harry Groves Spiked Shoe Invitational, Saturday at the Blue-White Golf Courses. The Nittany Lions, who are coming off victories in both the men's and women's races at the Lock Haven Dolan Duals a week ago, will be hosting their only regular season home competition of the year, with their next home appearance coming at the NCAA Mid-Atlantic Regional Championships on November 9.
The Nittany Lions will welcome a solid early season field for the collegiate competition, including men's and women's squads from Princeton and the Naval Academy, as well as the Georgetown men's team, and the West Virginia women's contingent.
Saturday's races are slated to get underway at 10:00 a.m., and run through the early afternoon. The starting and finishes lines are located on the west side of campus, across Atherton Street from Rec Hall.
About the Harry Groves Spiked Shoe Invitational -
When: Saturday, September 8
Where: Blue-White Golf Courses
Results: Available at the conclusion of the day's events at www.GoPSUsports.com.
Follow the Nittany Lions -
On Twitter: @PennStateTFXC
On Facebook: PennStateCrossCountryandTrackandField
Race Schedule -
| 10:00 AM | College Women's 6K |
| 10:45 AM | College Men's 5.2-Mile Run |
| 11:30 AM | High School Girls' 5K |
| 12:15 PM | High School Boys' 5K |
| 12:45 PM | Combined Junior Varsity 5K |
| ~ 1:30 PM | HS Awards Ceremony (Adjacent to Finish Line) |
Competing College Teams -
Delaware - W
Delaware Club - M
Geneseo St.
Georgetown - M
Navy
Ohio U.
Penn State
Princeton
Rutgers - W
St. Francis (Pa.)
St. Joseph's (Pa.)
West Virginia - W
Competing High School Teams -
Bayport-Blue Point (M)
Bellefonte
Brockway Area
Clearfield
Daniel Boone
DuBois Area
Fairview
Governor Mifflin (W)
Hazleton Area
Homer Center (W)
Lewisburg Area
Milton Area
North East
North Pocono
Oswayo Valley
Phoenixville Area (M)
Saint Joseph
Selinsgrove Area
Shikellamy
St. Marys Area
State College
Tunkhannock Area
University
Williamsburg
Williamsport Area
Wilson
Nittany Lion Notes -
Coach Harry Groves ...
This weekend's event is named after long-time Nittany Lion men's track and field and cross country coach Harry Groves. Groves spent nearly forty years at the helm of the men's program, beginning in 1968 until retiring at the conclusion of the 2006 track and field season. Groves is a 2001 USTCA Hall of Fame inductee, was named national Coach of the Year on five occasions, and is a 26-time Regional Coach of the Year honoree.
Big Ten Honors ...
Following victories at the Dolan Duals at Lock Haven last weekend, redshirt-freshman Robby Creese (Mount Airy, Md.) and junior Rebekka Simko (Mentor, Ohio) have been named Big Ten Cross Country Athletes of the Week. The Nittany Lions provided a dominate effort in the team standings with both teams picking up victories over Lock Haven, including a 15-50 sweep by the women's squad.
Off and Running ...
Redshirt freshman Robby Creese (Mount Airy, Md.) and junior Rebekka Simko (Mentor, Ohio) led the way with individual titles, pacing the Nittany Lion cross country squads to a pair of team victories at the annual Dolan Duals at Lock Haven University. Simko headed up a perfect effort from the women's squad, which saw the Nittany Lions better the Bald Eagles, 15-50. Simko gapped the field down the homestretch of the 4,000-meter course, finishing in 14:16. Teammate Tori Perri (Philadelphia, Pa.) was next in line, finishing in 14:20 for second overall. The men's squad was just as successful, bettering their competitors, 25-30, with Creese picking up the individual victory in 18:12 over 6,000-meters, in his first cross country appearance in a Nittany Lion uniform. The Nittany Lions covered three of the top five finishing spots, with junior Nick Scarpello (Jamison, Pa.), and Tom Luff (Emmaus, Pa.) taking third and fourth, respectively, in 18:36 and 18:37.
Nittany Lions in Charge ...
A quintet of seniors will serve at Penn State's team captains for the 2012 seasons, with 2011 NCAA qualifiers Natalie Bower (Pleasant Unity, Pa.), Lindsey Graybill (Macungie, Pa.), and Brooklyne Ridder (Cincinnati, Ohio) captaining the women's squad, and Tyler Corkedale (West Windsor, N.J.), and Tom Luff (Emmaus, Pa.) leading the men's team.
Next Time Out ...
The Nittany Lions will train through the next few weeks before traveling to the Greater Louisville Classic at the University of Louisville on September 29. The Cardinals are also set to host the 2012 NCAA Cross Country Championships on November 17.
Mark Your Calendars ...
The road to the NCAA Championships will begin in Happy Valley, as the Nittany Lions are slated to host the NCAA Mid-Atlantic Regional Championships on Friday, November 9. Regional races are set to begin at 12:00 p.m.