UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - With training well underway, the Penn State track & field team has been getting ready for the upcoming indoor and outdoor seasons. Assistant coach Kevin Kelly gave a preview of this year's pole vaulters, men's jumps and men's multi-event athletes.
Coach Kelly is passionate and ready to see his athletes compete for the Blue and White, no matter the group.
One thing he is very excited for is to see the women's pole vaulters continue growing from last season. Sophomore Katie Jones is tied for the outdoor school record in the pole vault with a height of 13-6.25, and will be looking to better her jumps.
"Katie really had a transition year as a freshman. She has a lot of success in high school and came out last year and figured out what college vaulting is about. Everyone is talented and she ended up tying Hannah Mulhern for our school record. I think she really came along and I'm looking for big things from her this year," Kelly said.
There are many talented pole vaulters who have been working on their jump in addition to Jones. Junior Greer Gumbrecht is earned a personal best of 13-2.5 last season and ranks fifth all-time outdoors at Penn State, and Megan Fry will be returning this year after her shoulder injury last season. Both will be looking to lead as upperclassmen, while transfer student Alexis Baublitz and freshman Carena Nottoli have been learning the training schedule with the help of Kelly.
"We have Carena Nottoli who reminds me a lot of Hannah Mulhern. She's got great speed and she has impressed me. I think that she is going to surprise some people in what she can do," Kelly said.
For multi-events on the men's side, Kelly has been working with three different men who all portray talent and hard work. Redshirt freshman Noah Swaby will be leading this group, in addition to being a mentor for freshmen Isaiah Dillard and David Bolles.
Dillard was not a multi-event athlete in high school yet has been working on the seven events in Happy Valley. He was a high jumper and hurdler in high school but now being a multi-event athlete, he is working on throws and pole vaulting.
"Noah Swaby has put a great fall on. He has some really good throws, he is hurdling and jumping well. I think it's going to be fun to see what he can do this year," Kelly said.
This track team also has many retuning experienced jumpers. Between juniors Spencer Hay, Austin Campbell and senior Bryce Williams, there is a lot of leadership in this group.
Williams holds the indoor school record for triple jump with a jump of 53-3.50. He will be working closely with freshman Wesley Matsuka-Williams to help ease the transition from high school training to college.
"Bryce Williams started off the year outstanding. It all started in the fall. He was in really good shape and made some huge technical improvements. This showed because he came out of the gates and broke our school record and went to indoor nationals. I think, going into this year, he is taking it a lot easier to make sure he lasts the season," Kelly said.
In the high jump, Hay and Campbell work closely together to push each other and improve their skills. Hay and Campbell both placed 11th at the Big Ten Indoor Track & Field Championships with a jump of 6-8. Senior Devin Bradham is also ready to get back to work with his training after having a successful season last year.
"Devin Bradham had a breakout year last year. The talent has been there and he proved to be a first round qualifier and a Big Ten scorer. He is right at that seven-foot range and has gotten 6-10 multiple times. He has looked really good in practice this year," Kelly said.
In the long jump, sophomore Will Henderson is a well-rounded athlete being a runner, a hurdler and a jumper. He also has the ability to progress throughout this season and prove to be a valuable member of the squad.
Coach Kelly has been working diligently and carefully with his athletes so that they can get the best results throughout this season. He stressed the importance of fall training and how it builds the base for these athletes until June.
"There is a foundation that we put in the fall. That's going to translate and then we can build off that into our more speed base training once we get closer to the season. We are starting to transition now. Also, to keep the athletes healthy. If they are not healthy then they will not show what they can do," Kelly said.
As a coach, he keeps coming back to Penn State to work with new and returning athletes. The program progresses every single year and Kelly is a part of why the Nittany Lions are successful.
"We have so many great things here at Penn State. It would be hard to find that somewhere else. I am happy to be here and I think our team gets better and better each year and I'm looking to see what we can do this year."