UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa.- The Penn State track and field team heads out to Michigan this weekend for the Big Ten Indoor Championships. Head coach John Gondak has been impressed with the way his athletes have been competing this season. Most importantly, he is excited to see how his team rises to the stakes of this upcoming meet.
"We have had a phenomenal regular season and many of our athletes have had some personal bests or school records," Gondak said. "As long as they realize that this is just another track meet that they have to go to and do their best at, that is when I think we are prepared."
Gondak and the team previously went to Michigan for a meet earlier this season to get a feel for the layout of their facilities. With that experience, the coaches and athletes feel confident and eager to compete again on the track and in the field.
"I think a big help with this meet is that we were able to go over to Michigan in January and preview the facility," Gondak said. "The athletes understand where to warm up and how the meet is going to be run. "
Senior thrower Morgan Shigo emphasized how excited he is to go back and compete at a school that he is familiar with. He feels prepared about the throwing circle and is aware of the talent that will be there. Ultimately, this will help throughout the weekend as he participates in a multitude of events.
"Definitely having thrown at Michigan before helps. Knowing where to warm up and where to go really helps. At the end of the day, it is just another meet, another opportunity to get better and I'm just going to go in and have some fun," Shigo said.
Shigo added he is confident in his younger and lower seeded teammates to also step up to the challenge of the championships.
"As a team, like I said we have some younger guys and some guys who are right outside of seeding," he said. "I think if we have some people step up and do what this team knows they can do. I think we can do pretty well. This is the first big meet for some kids on the team so they need to just stay focused."
The leadership on this team has excelled throughout the season so far and that has helped many of the younger athletes perform to their highest potential. Shigo feels that with the help of the other upperclassmen, many of the freshmen understand what it takes to be the best and to train like the best.
"Being a senior and a leader on this team takes a lot of work because we have a very young team. The older guys on the team have set a good precedent of what we except the younger guys to be doing on the team," Shigo said.
Shigo has his personal his goals for this upcoming meet as well. Previously this season, he had thrown the best of his career and has had a personal record of 73-2 in the weight throw. With that being said, this weekend he hopes to come within ten percent of his best or potentially exceed it.
"I had the best series of my life at a home meet with throwing over 70 feet each throw. I also had a personal record which now has me tied with David Lucas for seventh or eighth in the country," Shigo said.
Last year, he just fell short of medaling which makes him even more anxious and eager to compete this weekend. With this being his final Big Ten Indoor championship, he has an optimistic mindset and attitude coming into this weekend.
"I hope to go into this meet and compete within 10 percent of my personal best this season so far," he said. "If I ended up top three on the podium I would be happy with that because last year I fell short of the podium when I came in fourth."
With strong leaders and performers like Shigo, Gondak is excited to get the meet started. This team has been working together and pushing each other all year long for this special weekend. With determination and focus, Penn State can come out of this meet with some outstanding performances.
"The goal as it is every Big Ten Championship is to go in as it is and to be prepared and compete to the best of our ability and if we do that we will leave Michigan very happy with the meet outcome," Gondak said.
