Nov. 17, 2014
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - By Astrid Diaz, GoPSUsports.com Student Staff Writer UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - The Penn State track and field jumpers are looking to make a big impact this year as one of the staple point-scoring groups of the program. In part four of season previews, GoPSUSports.com caught up with Coach Kevin Kelly and his group of student-athletes on their improvements during the preseason, their goals, and this year's outlook.
Senior captain Steve Waithe had a phenomenal 2014 season on both the Big Ten and National stages. Waithe took home the Big Ten title in his 52-meter triple jump and placed fourth in the long jump (24-0.25). At Nationals, he triple jumped for 52-11.5 meters, the fourth best jump in Penn State history.
This year he returns leading the Nittany Lions and ready to break more records.
"Winning Big Tens definitely gave me some confidence...just to execute on the big levels is what I wanted to do," said Waithe. "This year my goals are obviously to break some records.
Sophomore Lexi Masterson joined the program last year and immediately got to work. At the 2014 outdoor National Championships, she pole-vaulted 13-3.5 meters, the Penn State all-time record. In 2015, she's looking to improve her performance and be a big contributor to the team.
"My goals for the team definitely include keeping up the winning streak at both Big Tens, indoor and outdoor," said Masterson. "Personally, I really want to make it to the NCAA Championships and I'm going to work really hard to achieve those goals."
Senior Dylan Bilka and junior Robert Cardina return this year for the Nittany Lions, as well. Both student-athletes hold Penn State records and are looking to raise the bar.
"Well, this year I'm looking to improve. Obviously, I'm going for the indoor record, which is only a couple inches higher than my [personal record]," said Bilka. "And just to see the rest of the group do really well."
Bilka finished fifth at the outdoor Big Ten Championships in 2014 with a 16-8 ¾ meter pole vault and moved to fifth in the Penn State all-time record book.
Cardina has had tremendous success in the decathlon and heptathlon in all levels.
At the outdoor Big Ten Championships, he broke the Penn State record in the heptathlon with 5,511 points.
At the outdoor NCAA Championships, Cardina performed tremendously in the decathlon finishing in fifth-place with a total 7,666 points. His fifth-place finish is highest in Penn State history and his score of 7,666 takes fifth in the record books.
"That sets the bar," said Cardina. "I have the school record now and I just want to keep setting it and setting it [higher]."
Coach Kelly is excited about the group's progress and depth noting their great preseason performances and their ambitions to bring home as many Big Ten titles as possible.
For more information of Penn State track and field visit www.GoPSUSports.com and follow the team on Twitter @PennStateTFXC.