Feb. 4, 2016
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UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - The Penn State track & field teams are back in action this weekend as they are set to host the Sykes & Sabock Challenge Cup at the Ashenfelter III Indoor Track. Nine teams are making their way to Happy Valley for the two-day meet. Live results will be provided by GoPSUsports.com for no charge.
SYKES & SABOCK CHALLENGE CUP
When: Friday, February 5 & Saturday, February 6
Where: Ashenfelter III Indoor Track
Start time: Friday: 1:30 p.m. (Pentathlon), 5:00 p.m. (One mile run/Women's weight throw), Saturday: 11:00 a.m. (field), noon (track)
Cost: Admission is free
SCHOOLS COMPETING
Binghamton, Connecticut, Cornell, James Madison, Liberty, Princeton, UMBC, William and Mary, PSU-Harrisburg
LAST TIME OUT - PENN STATE NATIONAL
Penn State would finish day one of the Penn State National with the Men's Distance Medley Relay highlighting action at the Horace Ashenfelter III indoor track. Day one of the Penn State National would give spectators in attendance a chance to see some of the premiere DMR's in the nation as Penn State and Stanford would finish the night with the fourth and fifth fastest DMR's in NCAA history, respectively.
In a battle down the front stretch of the Ashenfelter III indoor track Penn State's Brannon Kidder and Stanfords' Sean McGorty matched each other step for step as they raced towards what would be the No. 1 and No. 2 times in the nation as of Friday night.
The quartet of Jordan Makins, Alex Shisler, Isaiah Harris, and Brannon Kidder would miss the meet and facility record by sixty-one one-hundredths (0.61) of a second.
Kidder, who set the NCAA collegiate record in the 1000-meters last time out, would cap the Nittany Lion Relay splitting an unofficial 3:55 on the anchor leg (1600m).
Penn State teams wrapped up action on day two of the Penn State National meet with a new school record and several strong performances that rank in the top-10 in the nation.
In one of the most anticipated events of the day Brannon Kidder, who set the NCAA collegiate record two weeks ago at the Nittany Lion Challenge meet, would lay down the No. 2 time in the NCAA this season over 800-meters finishing the event with a season best time of 1:47.01. Kidder's time broke the meet record of 1:47.36 set by former Nittany Lion Casimir Loxsom in 2011 but missed the facility and school record by four one-hundredths of a second (0.04).
Running with Kidder in the men's invitational 800-meters were teammate Isaiah Harris. Harris' time of 1:48.12 is currently No. 13 in the nation and third amongst freshmen.
NITTANY LION NEWS & NOTES
NATIONAL RANKINGS
Heading into the first weekend of February, the Nittany Lions currently rank in the top-20 in 11 NCAA Championship events.
Brannon Kidder 3rd in the 800-meters (1:47.01), Isaiah Harris 13th in the 800-meters, Malik Moffett 10th in the 200-meters (21.02), Tori Gerlach 7th in the mile (4:37.83), Xavier Smith 15th in the 60-meters (6.68), Elizabeth Chikotas 7th in the 3000-meters (9:17.58), Quenee Dale 13th in the 60-meter hurdles (8.26), Men's 4x400m Relay 9th (3:09.01), Men's DMR 1st (9:27.20), Chisom Ifedi 11th in the high jump (7'-1.5"/2.17m), Danielle Gibson 6th in the triple jump (43'-1.5"/13.14m), and Rachel Fatherly 4th in the shot put (56'-0.5"/17.08m)
Chisom Ifedi mark of 2.17m is the best in the nation amongst freshman at any level (NCAA DI, DII, DIII, NJCAA, NAIA)
LATEST USTFCCCA RANKINGS
For the first time since week seven of 2014, the Penn State men's and women's track & field teams are both ranked inside the top-25 of the indoor track & field season National Computer Rankings, as released Monday (Feb. 2) afternoon by the United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA).
Both Nittany Lion track & field teams are represented in the rankings with the men's team holding steady at No. 21, while the women made their season debut in the top-25 checking in at No. 25.
The Penn State track & field teams wrapped up action this past weekend at the Penn State National meet with a new school record and several strong performances that rank in the top-10 in the nation, including the No. 1 men's DMR in the nation - fourth-fastest in NCAA history.
BREAKIN' RECORDS
Five school records have been broken between the men's and women's track & field teams this season. Xavier Smith (60m), Brannon Kidder (1000m), Tori Gerlach (1000m, Mile) and Lexi Masterson(Pole Vault) have all broken a school record through two meets this season.
HOME SWEET HOME
The Nittany Lions are set to welcome teams from across the nation into the Ashenfelter III Indoor Track as they host the fourth of five meets during the 2016 indoor season. Penn State will not travel until Feb. 12-13 when they split squads to two meets (Husky Classic and Fastrack National).
PARKING
Transportation Services has announced alerts for traffic, transit and parking for this Friday's Penn State Wrestling "BJC Dual" vs. Ohio State at 6 p.m. at the Bryce Jordan Center that will be ongoing during the Sykes & Sabock Challenge Cup meet.
With doors set to open at 4:30 p.m. for this sold-out event, a significant amount of additional traffic is expected between 4 and 6 p.m. Friday, and those who normally travel through this area of campus are encouraged to seek an alternate route, if possible, and allow extra time to reach their destinations.
TRAFFIC AND TRANSIT ALERTS
The section of Curtin Road between University Drive and Porter Road will close to vehicle traffic at approximately 4:30 p.m. Friday. Any vehicles exiting Lot 44 from this time through the start of the event will be required to use the exits along Porter Road or Dauer Drive to University Drive.
Due to this closure, CATA HP, BLUE LOOP and RED LINK passengers should anticipate possible delays and an inability to service stops #355 (Curtin Rd. at Stadium West) and #287 (Curtin Rd. at BJC).
GENERAL PARKING
General parking for the "BJC Dual" and "Sykes & Sabock Challenge Cup" will be available beginning at 4 p.m. at the following parking areas:
- Lot 44 (located between the Bryce Jordan Center and Porter Road)
- Stadium West (located between Beaver Stadium and University Drive)
- Porter North (located north of Medlar Field)
Vehicles displaying a valid Penn State faculty/staff or student parking permit may park at Lot 44, Stadium West or Porter North for no additional fee.
Fans should let the parking attendants know they are going to track meet in order to not be subjected to $5.00 charge (cash).
ADA PARKING
ADA parking will be available at the section of Lot 44 near Gate B, just across from the All-Sports Museum, and at the first row of spaces along Curtin Road at Lot Stadium West, across from the Bryce Jordan Center Ticket Center. In addition to a valid state-issued ADA placard or license plate, a valid Penn State faculty/staff or student parking permit, the appropriate wrestling parking voucher, or payment of the event parking fee, is also required.
NEXT TIME OUT
The Nittany Lions are set to travel for the first time during the 2016 indoor season next Friday and Saturday Feb. 12-13 as the teams will split split to two meets over the weekend (Husky Classic and Fastrack National).
For more on Nittany Lion track & field, log onto www.GoPSUsports.com or follow the team on Twitter @PennStateTFXC.