Sept. 9, 2016
Saturday, September 10
10:00 am ET - Women's 6K
10:45 am ET - Men's 5.2 Miles
MEET INFO | MEET PROGRAM
MEET PREVIEW
| Nationally Ranked Teams | |
| Men | Women |
| #1 Syracuse | #13 Penn State |
| #7 Georgetown | #15 Syracuse |
| Princeton (RV) | #19 Georgetown |
| West Virginia (RV) | |
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - The Penn State men's and women's cross country teams make their 2016 home debut this weekend as they host the annual Harry Groves Spiked Shoe Invitational on Friday, Sept. 10. The Harry Groves Spiked Shoe Invitational takes place at the Blue-White Golf Course starting at 10:00 a.m., with the women's 6K and the men take the course at 10:45 a.m., for a 5.2 mile run.
College Competitors
Cornell, Georgetown, Grove City, Lehigh (M), Messiah, Penn State, Princeton (M), Rutgers, St. Joseph's (Pa.), Syracuse, West Virginia (W)
The High School Contingent
Bellefonte Area, Central Mountain, Clearfield, Daniel Boone, Elmira (N.Y.), Hazleton Area, Juniata, Lake Shore (N.Y.), Lewisburg, Muhlenberg, Scranton Prep, Selinsgrove Area, Shikellamy, S. Williamsport , State College, Tunkhannock Area, University (W.V.), Warrior Run, Williamsport Area and Wilson.
Meet Coach Groves
The event is named after long-time Nittany Lion men's track and field and cross country coach Harry Groves. Groves spent nearly forty years at the helm of the men's program, beginning in 1968 until retiring at the conclusion of the 2006 track and field season. Groves is a 2001 USTCA Hall of Fame inductee, was named national Coach of the Year on five occasions, and is a 26-time Regional Coach of the Year honoree. Throughout his Lion career, Groves coached 11 American record holders and 21 national champions. On the international level, 14 Groves-coached athletes made Olympic teams. Groves has also made countless international appearances of his own, including a trip to Barcelona, Spain, where he served as an assistant coach of the 1992 Olympic staff.
Last Time Out
Timothy McGowan led the way for the men's cross country team as they topped Lock Haven with a team score of 16 to claim the team title at the Dolan Duals while Tessa Barrett led the women to a perfect score of 15 for the eighth-consecutive year.
Spiked Shoe History
Led by Tori Gerlach's first-place effort (21:02), the 2015 Spiked Shoe Invitational saw the Lions close fast as Elizabeth Chikotas (21:17), Jillian Hunsberger (21:37), Tessa Barrett (21:43), and Greta Lindsley (21:49) claimed third, fourth, sixth, and seventh-place, respectively, to round out the scoring for the women who claimed their fourth-consecutive Spiked Shoe title and ninth title since switching the women's discipline to 6K in 2000. The Penn State men were paced by junior Ean DiSilvio who would finish as the top Nittany Lion in seventh-place with a time of 25:46. Following DiSilvio were teammates Conner Quinn (25:54), Wade Endress (25:56), and Colin Abert (26:00) in 10th, 11th, and 12th-place, respectively. Austin Pondel rounded out the scoring for Penn State recording a time of 27:06 (23rd).
Parking for Spiked Shoe Invitational
Remember, all spectators need to park in the Nittany Deck near the Nittany Lion Inn. When arriving at the deck please let the attendant working know that you are there for the Harry Groves Spikes Shoe Invitational meet.
Get Your 2016 Cross Country Posters
Make sure to stop by the Spiked Shoe Invitational to pick up your free 2016 Penn State Cross Country posters featuring this years team captains.
Next Up For Penn State
The Nittany Lions will travel to Minneapolis, MN for the Griak Invite Sept. 24.
For more on Nittany Lion cross country, log onto www.GoPSUsports.com or follow the team on Twitter @PennStateTFXC.