UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – The Penn State indoor track program is ready to show off its 2019 roster as the program welcomes seven other schools to its home track for the first meet of the season Saturday.
At the Multi-Sport facility, Penn State head coach John Gondak will proudly showcase his team and their home facility. He loves having other schools travel to Happy Valley because he believes it brings out the best in his team.
"The main part about putting on meets is that we try to attract teams to come to our facilities so that they will bring the athletes that will push our athletes to be better. The better we get to set up our indoor meets, the more it will help us for future meets," Gondak said Tuesday at the team's preseason media availability.
Gondak is also looking for leadership from his upperclassmen, including two that were on-hand at media availability Tuesday, juniors Kiara Lester and David Lucas.
Lester, who is using her experience as a multiple-time scorer at the Big Ten Championships to take on a lead role on the team as she trains new freshmen sprinters, is excited to start her season at home continue to improve on her first two years in Happy Valley.
"Competing at home is a great feeling just because it is where we practice every single day," she said. "Stepping on your home track, obviously you want to show off, and it helps having people all around scream 'We Are.' Especially when it is time for the relays, seeing your teammates come together and cheer you on helps excite the atmosphere."
Now that she is an upperclassman, Lester is looking to be a role model for the younger athletes. Since she has been a part of the team since freshman year, Lester knows the demands of her coaches and what it takes to have success.
"When I came in, I was the only freshman on the sprint squad and now this year we have at least five girls who came in. It is exciting for me because my training partner recently graduated so I'm looking forward to training and pushing these new girls to build a bond with them," Lester said.
Lucas is back for his fourth season in the Blue & White. Having been an indoor national champion last year with a weight throw of 78-9.75, Lucas is ready to attack the field again and keep his momentum going when he knows he's the one to beat.
"There is a target that is there and there are people that are watching and talking but we are going to try and keep that pressure low. For me, this offseason, I have worked on trying to prioritize my training and thinking before going into competitions," Lucas said.
Lucas has personal goals for himself this season, but his team goals drive him the most. He has weekly conversations with the underclassmen where he shares both training tips and advice on being a successful student-athlete.
"I think that one of my goals now as a leader on the team is to really work and develop that team chemistry. One of the things that I'm trying to do this year is to inspire young kids on this team to show them what it takes to go to the next level," Lucas said.
Gondak supports Lucas' leadership because he already sees and feels the team's sense of community. He feels that the team has been working closely with each other off the track which ultimately motivates them during each meet.
"I have been impressed with the overall attitude and atmosphere on and off the track this year," he said. "I feel that everyone has helped themselves and decided that the team is on a mission to make this year better than last."
In the preseason, Gondak stressed the importance of being an athlete, while not forgetting to be a strong student as well. He notices that athletes do better on the track when their grades are strong.
"Be a student. They hear me all the time talk about the academic piece and how important that is," Gondak said on the importance of the off the track side of being at Penn State. "One of the things that I have noticed, is that when athletes have success in the classroom, that removes the stress of academics. They will just be able to be themselves and compete."
Gondak is ready for the season to get started and he is excited to set and evaluate goals as Penn State progresses throughout the winter.
"Many of the goals develop throughout the year. Many of the freshman I have I do not know how they are going to compete. I tend to personally wait to see through the first three meets or so and then I sit down and refine the goals," Gondak said.
Gondak, Lester, Lucas and the rest of the squad will look to begin to achieve and refine those goals Saturday, Jan. 12, starting at 11 a.m. at the Nittany Lion Challenge.