April 20, 2015
USTFCCCA Release
NEW ORLEANS -- The United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) announced its National Computer Rankings for week three (April 20) and the Penn State men's track & field team is ranked No. 15. The Nittany Lion men are the top Big Ten team in the USTFCCCA National Rankings.
This past weekend at the LSU Alumni Gold meet, javelin thrower Michael Shuey (Johnsonburg, Pa.) hit a season-best toss of 242-8, which moved him up two spots to 11th.
Also setting scored performances this season are Robby Creese (Mount Airy, Md.) and Brannon Kidder (Lancaster, Ohio). At the season-opening Florida Relays, they both recorded scored performances in the 800-meter run.
In the 800-meter run, Kidder is 12th (1:47.14) and Creese is 47th (1:48.54). The duo also has scored performances in the 1,500-meter run, as they rank second (3:38.82) and 17th (3:41.03), respectively.
In the field events, the Nittany Lions have six marks ranked in the USTFCCCA National Computer Rankings. The triple jump duo of Steve Waithe (Parkville, Md.) and Brian Leap (Bellwood, Pa.) rank 12th (52-11.50) and 35th (51-6.50), respectively.
Senior Darrell Hill (Philadelphia, Pa.) currently has the fourth-best scored mark in the shot put (67-6) and Cole Proffitt (Manheim, Pa.) ranks 49th (224-4) in the javelin throw.
Robert Cardina (Lancaster, Pa.), a sophomore, is eighth in the decathlon with his score of 7,666 points. Cardina also ranks 42nd in the high jump with his height of 7-0.25.
Last year at the 2014 NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships, Cardina placed eighth in the decathlon (7,666 points), Kidder finished 12th in the 1,500-meter run (3:44.30), Hill placed 15th in the shot put (62-9.50) and Waithe and Leap finished fifth (52-11.50) and 16th (51-6.50), respectively, in the triple jump.
The Nittany Lion men opened up the 2015 outdoor season ranked 15th; their highest ranking is 11th, a feat they achieved twice in 2013.
Penn State track & field heads to Philadelphia, Pa., later this week for the running of the 121st Penn Relays at Franklin Field. The Penn Relays take place April 23-25.
For more on Nittany Lion track & field, log onto www.GoPSUsports.com or follow the team on Twitter @PennStateTFXC.