Dec. 8, 2015
- Full Schedule
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Penn State cross country and track & field head coach John Gondak has released the 2016 outdoor schedule. The Nittany Lions will compete in 11 meets in seven states starting in early April.
"We have a very exciting schedule for the 2016 season that will culminate with the Olympic Trials in July. I have a goal with our schedule to get to some new locations every year and we've accomplish that this year very well," said Gondak.
Penn State will open the 2016 outdoor season when they visit Tempe, Ariz. as the Nittany Lions will take part in a Pac-12/Big Ten two-day challenge.
The Nittany Lions will split squads the following weekend as they travel to the Florida Relays (Gainesville, Fla.) and to the Stanford Invite (Palo Alto, Calif.) on April 1-2. April also features meets in Oregon, Texas and Pennsylvania.
"The Big Ten - Pac 12 Challenge Meet at Arizona State is going to be a great way to start the season off and be a great tune-up as we head into what I think will be an amazing experience for our student-athletes - the Pepsi Invitation," said Gondak. "This four-way scored meet that includes Penn State, Oregon, Washington and Southern Cal should be one of the premier scored meets in the country this spring and will be held at historic Hayward Field in Eugene, Ore. I am getting excited for this already!"
During April, Penn State will compete at the Pepsi Invite (April 9), the Bucknell Classic (April 16-17), the Texas Invitational (April 16), the Stanford Twilight (April 22), and the prestigious Penn Relays in Philadelphia, Pa., April 28-30.
Penn State then returns home for their lone home meet of the year, the Jim Thorpe Invite (May 6), before the championship portion of their outdoor season begins.
"With trips to Texas, Stanford and the famous Penn Relays, we should be well prepared for championship time in May and June," said Gondak.
The Big Ten Outdoor Track & Field Championships will be hosted by the University of Nebraska in Lincoln, Neb. 13-14.
The NCAA postseason begins with the NCAA East First Round (May 26-28) in Jacksonville, Fla., and the NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships, hosted by the University of Oregon, at Hayward Field in Eugene, Ore., June 8-10.
The year concludes for the Nittany Lions at the USA Junior Championships & 2016 Olympic Trials in Eugene, Ore., June 24-26 and July 1-10, respectively.
The Penn State track & field team begins their season Dec. 12 at the Ashenfelter III Indoor Track as they host the Blue-White Intrasquad meet.
For more on Nittany Lion track & field, log onto www.GoPSUsports.com or follow the team on Twitter @PennStateTFXC.