Sep 3, 2013
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa.- Director and Head Coach of Nittany Lion Track and Field/Cross Country Beth Alford-Sullivan has announced the hiring of former Nittany Lion standout Ryan Foster as Director of Operations. Foster, a multiple-time All-American and Big Ten Champion, will assist in the Nittany Lion program in various administrative capacities, including facility management, equipment distribution, alumni relations, and marketing and promotions.
"I'm thrilled to have Ryan Foster join our staff in this capacity," said Director and Head Coach of Track and Field/Cross Country Beth Alford-Sullivan. "He brings great experiences and success as student-athlete here at Penn State, and I trust that that will translate into great results in this position. He will work along Jess Riden as our second Director of Operations, and with the two of them on board, we will have an outstanding operations staff to continue to support our program as it continues its championship drive."
Foster, who is a 2011 graduate, enjoyed one of the most successful careers in program history during, finishing his tenure in the Blue and White with three All-America finishes - including a pair of NCAA bronze-medal efforts - as well as four Big Ten titles.
"I am very excited to once again be a part of a Penn State team that has continued to contend for championships year after year. It is a privilege to be working so closely with Coach Sullivan and her staff and being exposed to a nationally prominent program. Being a student-athlete at Penn State was an incredible experience, and I look forward to continuing to promote academic and athletic success as a member of the Track & Field/Cross Country staff."
The former Nittany Lion made an immediate impact on the Penn State program, winning the Big Ten indoor title at 800-meters during his sophomore campaign in 2009. Foster would go on to win three-straight indoor conference half mile crowns, while also picking up an outdoor victory in the same event in 2009. Foster was a multiple-time qualifier on the NCAA stage, finishing third in the 800 at the NCAA Indoor Championships in 2010, and matching the finish in the mile run at NCAA Indoor the following year. Boasting an impressive range, Foster was also a member of the Nittany Lions' NCAA-qualifying team in cross country in 2010.
Over his career, Foster posted personal-best efforts of 1:46.78 in the 800 - the fourth-best performance in school history - and 2:19.60 for the 1000-meters, which stands as the third-fastest effort in the collegiate record books. In 2011, Foster led the Nittany Lions to their first Penn Relays Championship of America since 1987, anchoring the Penn State squad to a finishing time of 3:17.10 - which remains a Penn State record.
Foster, who also owns a PR of 3:39.25 in the 1500, was a member of the Nittany Lions' 7:12.90 effort in the 4x800-meter relay in 2011. The performance stands second in the Penn State record books, and is the seventh fastest ever run by a collegiate squad.
He remains one of just four Nittany Lion harriers to break 4:00 in the mile, running 3:58.49. Hailing from Tasmania, Australia, he was the first Tasmanian to break the 4:00-barrier indoors, and also holds national records in the indoor 800 - (1:47.48) and 1000-meters (2:19.60).
Foster spent the past two years working locally as a full-time intern with the Kevin Dare Foundation, before serving as the Chief of Staff for the Partners Financial Group (PFG). Foster spent a year as volunteer assistant for the Nittany Lions during the 2011-12 campaign.
During his time with the Dare Foundation, Foster organized and participated in the world-record setting 1,000-mile relay, in an effort to promote the Foundation's scholarship fund, "Life ... Back on Track." The fundraising effort has continued to help athletes with debilitating injuries/illness, through financial scholarships, achieve their academic goals in memory of the life of former Penn State pole vaulter Kevin Dare. The 10-man team, which was comprised of mostly Nittany Lion alumni, completed the 1000-mile trek from Minneapolis, Minn., to Nittany Lion Track in 95 hours, three minutes, and one second.
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