Sept. 15, 2016
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - The future of Penn State track & field is very bright as the Nittany Lions welcome several high caliber athletes in as a part of the 2016 recruiting class.
Coming off a year that saw third year head coach John Gondak capture the Big Ten women's cross country title, as well as the men's track & field team finishing in the Top 20 at the NCAA Outdoor Championships for a second consecutive year, the Lions are primed for exciting cross country, indoor and outdoor seasons.
Several athletes earned USTFCCCA Athlete of the year accolades as Penn State looks to accomplish even bigger goals with this year's squads that are loaded from top to bottom with newcomers that will be expected to contribute in a B1G way during the 2016-17 academic calender.
27 student-athletes make up the 2016 incoming class of recruits which encompasses several state champions as well as nationally ranked performances.
Here is a breakdown of what the future of Penn State track & field did this past spring during their respective senior seasons:
Darian Alston | Jumps
Downingtown, Pa.
Downingtown West HS
Personal Best: Triple Jump-48'-9" (14.85m)
Highlights
Pennsylvania Indoor State Champion
Third-place at Pennsylvania Outdoor State Championships
Kenny Anderson Jr. | Sprints/Hurdles
Linwood, N.J.
Mainland Regional High School
110mH-14.77, 400mIH-53.65
Highlights
Sixth-place at 2016 New Jersey Group-3 State Championships in the 400mIH
Will Ashenfelter | Distance/XC
Needham, MA
Needham High School
Personal Best: 400-meters-49.85, 600-meters-1:22.23, 800-meters-1:55.33
Austin Campbell | Jumps
Centennial,CO
Regis Jesuit HS
Personal Best: High Jump-6'-11" (2.10m)
Highlights
Colorado Outdoor State Champion in high jump
Tristan Daman | Sprints
State College, Pa.
State College Area High School
Personal Best: 100-meters-10.77, 200-meters-22.20
Highlights
Fourth-place at 2016 PIAA State Meet (100-meters)
Derek Dibona | Pole Vault
Warwick, N.Y.
Warwick Valley HS
Personal Best: 16'-2" (4.92m)
Highlights
Second-place at 2015 N.Y. Indoor State Meet
Third-place at 2015 N.Y. Outdoor State Meet
Fifth-place at 2015 New Balance indoor nationals
Luke Grodeska | Throws (U.S. ranked No.7)
Neptune, N.J.
St. Rose HS
Personal Best: 68'-0.75" (20.75m) (Shot Put)
Highlights
New Jersey State Champion Indoor and Outdoor
New Balance Indoor fourth-place
New Balance Outdoor seventh-place
Spencer Hay | Jumps
Lehighton, Pa.
Palmerton HS
Personal Best: High Jump-6'-8" (2.03m)
Highlights
Pennsylvania State Champion
Jaxson Hoey | Distance/XC
Downingtown, Pa.
Downingtown West HS
Personal Best: 800-meters-1:51.58, 1500-meters-3:52.55, 1600-meters-4:11.47, Two-Mile-9:09.01, 5k-15:13
Highlights
2015 1600m PIAA T&F State Champion
2015 PIAA State Cross Country Runner-up
Finished third in the 800-meters at the 2016 PIAA State Championships
Will Loevner Distance/XC
Allison Park, Pa.
Winchester Thurston High School
Personal Best: 3200-meters-9:16.63
Highlights
Finished fifth at the 2016 PIAA Track & Field State Championships in the 3200-meters
Tyreek Mathis | Sprints
Philadelphia, Pa.
Martin Luther King High School
Personal Best: 100-meters-10.95/400-meters-47.85
Highlights
Third-place at 2016 PIAA State Meet (400-meters)
Domenic Perretta | Distance/XC
Beaver Falls, Pa.
Beaver Falls HS
Personal Best: 800-meters-1:50.10, Mile-4:11.53
Highlights
3x 800m PIAA State Champion
3x1600m PIAA State Champion
2015 800m Indoor National Runner-up
Ben Peterson |Throws (U.S. ranked No.22)
Solon, OH
Solon HS
Personal Best: 63'-5" (19.32m) (Shot Put)
Highlights
Second-place at the Ohio Outdoor State Championship
New Balance Indoor sixth-place
Michael Slagowski | Distance/XC
Meridian, ID
Rocky Mountain HS
Personal Best: 400-meters-48.54, 800-meters-1:48.36, Mile-3:59.53, 3200-meters-9:14.59, 5k-15:21
Highlights
2015 800m Indoor National Champion
Two-time 800m, 1600m, 3200m Idaho 4A/5A State Champion
2015 Idaho State Cross Country Champion
Became the ninth high school athlete to ever break the four-minute mark in the mile; running the 7th fastest time.
Recorded a fourth-place finish in the mile at the 2016 Prefontaine Classic (3:59.78)
Griffin Thompson | Pole Vault
State College, Pa.
State College HS
Personal Best: 16'-3" (4.95m)
Highlights
Third-place at Pennsylvania Indoor State Meet
Pennsylvania State Outdoor Champion
Brandon Tubby | Distance/XC
Hillsborough, N.J.
Hillsborough HS
Personal Best: 800-meters-1:53.36, 1600-meters-4:09.59, 3200-meters-9:15.47
Highlights
Finished sixth in the mile at the 2015 Indoor National Championships
2016 1600-meter NJSIAA Group 4 State Champion
Darien Williams |Sprints
Ambler, Pa.
Wissahickon High School
Personal Best: 100-meters-10.64/200-meters-22.11
Highlights
Runner-up at 2016 PIAA State Meet (100-meters)
Rachel Banks | Distance/XC
Chardon, OH
Chardon HS
Personal Best: 800-meters-2:07.27, Mile-4:57.78, 5k-18:32
Highlights
2015 800-meters OHSAA State Champion
2016 800-meters OHSAA State Runner-up
Kadey Donitzen | Jumps
Stahlstown, Pa.
Mount Pleasant Area Senior High School
Event: High Jump
Personal Best(s) High Jump 5'-7" (1.70m)
Highlights
2015 PIAA T&F State Championships Qualifier
2015 PIAA District 7 AAA Championships high jump runner-up
2015 WCCA Championships high jump champion
Natasha Fedkina | Distance/XC
State College, Pa.
State College Area School District
Personal Best: 800-meters-2:15.47, 1600-meters-5:00.97
Highlights
Finished sixth in the 1600-meters at the 2016 PIAA Track & Field State Championships
Julia Guerra | Distance/XC
Oakland, N.J.
Indian Hills HS
Personal Best: 1600-meters-4:51.56, 3200-meters-10:35.70, 5k-17:46
Highlights
2014 Indoor Mile NJSIAA Group Champion
Finished 10th at the 2014 National Championships in the 1600-meters
2015 1600-meters NJSIAA State Meet of Champions Runner-Up
2016 Indoor Mile NJSIAA Group Champion Runner-Up
Winner of the 2016 Indoor 3200-meters NJSIAA Meet of Champions
Julia Howard | Jumps
Greensburg, Pa.
Greensburg Salem High School
Event: Long Jump, Triple Jump
Personal Best(s) Long Jump - 18'-11" (5.76m) / Triple Jump - 39'-2.50" (11.95m)
Highlights
2016 PIAA District 7 AA & AAA Long Jump champion
2016 PIAA District 7 AA & AAA Triple Jump champion
2016 PIAA T&F State Championships fourth-place long jump
2016 PIAA T&F State Championships third-place triple jump
Kiara Lester | Sprints
Wenonah, N.J.
Deptford HS
Personal Best: 200-meters-24.32/ 400-meters-55.72
Highights
2016 NJSIAA Group 2 Indoor State Champion (400m)
Third-place 2016 NJSIAA Group 2 Indoor State Championships (55m)
2016 NJSIAA Indoor Meet of Champions Champion (200m)
Runner up at 2016 NJSIAA Indoor Meet of Champions (400m)
Grayson McCloy | Jumps
Mill Hall, Pa.
Central Mountain High School
Event: High Jump
Personal Best(s) High Jump 5'-5" (1.65m)
Highlights
2016 PIAA track & field State Championships Qualifier
2016 PIAA District 6-AAA high jump champion
Kathryn Munks | Distance/XC
Chester, N.Y.
Monroe Woodbury HS
Personal Best: 1500-meters-4:36.12, 3,000-meters-9:52.69, 5k-17:39
Highlights
Finished 11th in the Two-Mile at the 2016 National Championships
2015 Cross Country Foot Locker Finalist
Danae Rivers | Distance/XC
Derby, CT
Wilbur Cross HS
Best: 800m-2:05.86, 1000m-2:49.68, 1600m-4:47.45
Highlights
Winner of the 2015 New England Championships
Finished third at the 2015 National Championships (800m)
2015 800m and 1600m CIAC State Open Champion
Finished fourth at the 2016 Indoor National Championships (800m)
2016 1600m CIAC State Open Championships Runner-Up
Kelsey Vieira | Jumps
Hillsborough, N.J.
Hillsborough High School
Event: Long Jump, Triple Jump
Personal Best(s): Long Jump 19'-1.25" (5.82m) / Triple Jump 39'-3.75" (11.98m)
Highlights
2015 NJSIAA Sectionals - Central - Groups 1 & 4 Long Jump champion
2015 NJSIAA Long Jump runner-up Meet of Champions
2015 NJSIAA Groups 1 & 4 2015 & NP B Triple Jump champion