University Park, Pa.- The Nittany Lions track and field program will split and travel in opposite directions Friday and Saturday, as they will compete in both the Rod McCravy Memorial and the Dr. Sander Invitational/Columbia Challenge.
The Rod McCravy Memorial is held at the University of Kentucky, while the Dr. Sander Invitational is held at the historic Armory Track and Field Center, recognized as one of the fastest tracks in the world and home to the famous NYRR Millrose Games in New York City.
Penn State is no stranger to the historic Armory, as student-athletes through the years have excelled there before. In fact, the Nittany Lions have not only excelled at the Armory but have also shattered and set Armory, Millrose and Penn State records.
Perhaps the heightened success is related to the unique atmosphere the Armory has, as opposed to most other track and field competitions. High school, collegiate and professional athletes are all given a chance to compete against each other—pushing boundaries and heightening the competition.
While some athletes will be returning to the famous games and Armory track this winter, for others they will be making their mark for the first time.
One of those athletes heading to the event for the first time is Penn State track and field alumnus, professional Nike runner and current Nittany Lion volunteer coach Isaiah Harris. Though he has never raced at the Armory track, he said he has "only heard great things about the atmosphere."
This weekend, Harris will finally get to experience it. For Harris, while he is excited to run, he's excited to see his former teammates compete as well.
"I'm super excited to see everyone compete at the Armory because I've seen all of the hard work they've been putting in this fall," he said. "One of my favorite parts of being a volunteer coach with the team is getting to see the hard work the student-athletes put in finally pay off on meet weekends."
A former Penn State mid-distance runner, Harris signed a professional contract with Nike in June 2018. He continued to train at Penn State, however, while completing his degree in the 2019 spring semester. Harris also was a volunteer coach for the Nittany Lions track and field program this past fall.
Harris said he has also been putting hard work into his training this year, and he is feeling very confident going into this weekend's race as the start of bigger goals.
"My goal for this weekend is to just open up for my 2020 season with a win," Harris said. "My goal for this season as a whole is to remain healthy and make the Olympic team."
Harris said the Penn State track and field program has taught him how to become physically, and more importantly, mentally prepared for every race.
Perhaps those Penn State values were also the key to success for other Nittany Lions who have heightened their performance and made their mark at the Armory track.
In 2013, the Nittany Lions became Armory track and Millrose record holders for the men's 4x800-meter relay at the Millrose Games, with a time of 7:21.37. Their effort replaced University of Richmond's 31-year-old Millrose record of 7:23.08, and Columbia University's 2012 Armory record of 7:25.47.
Seven years later, the Nittany Lions' record still stands.
The relay team consisted of Za'Von Watkins, Brannon Kidder, Ricky West and Casimir Loxsom. Loxsom, the anchor, crossed the finish line with over five seconds to spare, solidifying the Nittany Lions' win.
In 2019, current senior Danae Rivers, a captain for the 2020 season, was the sole member of the Nittany Lions to compete at the Armory track, but she did not disappoint. Rivers was a top performer in the 112th Millrose Games' cornerstone—the NYRR Wanamaker Mile.
Rivers ran the 10th-fastest collegiate time in history, with a time of 4:29.47. She beat her previous best by more than three seconds and broke her own Penn State record.
Later in that same indoor season, Rivers became the first women's individual national champion in Penn State track and field's history in the 800m race at the NCAA Indoor Championships.
Rivers is expected to return to the Armory this weekend to compete in the 800m race.
Other captains such as senior Madeline Holmberg and sophomore Noah Swaby will join Rivers at the Dr. Sander Invitational, as just a few of the current and former Nittany Lions prepare to hit the track.
With the advice from Harris and their other coaches, as well as previous experience mixed with the famous atmosphere of the Armory track, the Nittany Lions, past and present, have a chance for more successful and historic moments this weekend in New York City.
