March 12, 2015
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -
By Astrid Diaz, GoPSUsports.com Student Staff Writer
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - This weekend the Nittany Lions will be on the road once again. However, this time, they will be made up of only eleven student-athletes that will look to dominate the national stage in Fayetteville, Arkansas.
The small group of student-athletes, compared to the dozens that regularly travel on the weekends, have proved to be the cream of crop this year and have earned their positions at the 2015 Indoor NCAA Championships representing the blue and white.
"Having a close group like that will help with cheering each other on and for having a Penn State presence down there," said Brian Leap
And while for most, the thought of competing on the national level could be nerve-wrecking or intimidating these eleven Big Ten Champions are headed into 'just another meet' that provides another chance to showcase the diligence they've devoted all season long.
"The hay is in the barn now and we're just going to tune up and get ready...take a few days to recover. No need to do anything special this week," said junior Brannon Kidder, who is slated to compete in the one-mile run and the distance medley relay.
Also representing the Nitany Lions on the track will be junior Kiah Seymour who is set to compete in the 400-meter run. Seymour, who placed fifth in the event at the NCAA meet in 2014, represents the team's focused mindset headed into the meet. This year is a clean slate and it brings opportunity for improvement.
"I think I train the same for every meet. This isn't any different. I'm going to go out there and try my best," said Seymour. "Good competition brings out good performances."
On the field, Penn State is confident.
Leap had a powerful performance at the Big Ten Championships where he posted a personal record triple jump of 52-6.75.
"[I'm just going to] build off of [Big Tens]. I know there are more things out there and hopefully I can look toward that school record mark," said Leap. "[I'll just] continue to do the same things I've been doing and use the atmosphere to give me the extra push."
Another consistent stand out is junior Rachel Fatherly who earned her Big Ten Championship medal with a personal-best weight throw of 66-6.50. Fatherly's growth this season has been entertaining, to say the least, and represents the determination and concentration practiced daily by the Nittany Lions.
"I think that ending the weight throw [at the Big Ten Championships] with my last throw being my best throw builds confidence and it shows that I can come through. I can be focused," said Fatherly. "My better throws come when I'm more relaxed and calm. Coach Ebel told me to think about everything that got me to NCAAs and just try and reiterate that."
Aside from focused, confident, and determined, the team is grateful for this opportunity.
"I'm really excited and [I feel] blessed to...be able to go compete and to compete for a national championship," said senior Darrell Hill, who is closing off his senior season with a first-time trip to an indoor championship.
The most important note of all, though, is that the team is really, really excited.
"I'm actually just really excited more than I am nervous," said Seymour.
"Absolutely. I'm definitely excited and not having school will be nice. We can fully focus on track," said Kidder. "I'm really excited for the relay. It's always really exciting running with those guys."
"I'm excited. I was just there a few weeks ago with all the SEC schools and it was similar. I got all the nerves out of the way and now I can just use the excitement and build off of Big Tens," said Leap.
"Definitely excited," said Fatherly.