Track and Field Season Preview

Over the past few years, the Penn State Behrend track and field program has seen many school records broken as athletes continue to improve and contend for ECAC and NCAA qualifying marks. They have had great success in the past, but with the addition of this year's freshmen class, the coaching staff feels the team can make a push to become one of the conference's most elite programs. 

Fifth-year head coach Greg Cooper entered last season with the goal to push his team to even greater success. That goal was fulfilled when the team made its second consecutive conference championship. Cooper, also a former Lions track and field star, will be managing 71 players in the upcoming season and is really excited in the direction the program is moving.

"We have a very strong senior class that will anchor our program," said Cooper. "As a team our goal is to improve on our Mason Dixon Championship performance from a year ago. Individually, I believe we should have multiple NCAA qualifiers, possibly the most in school history."

Last year's team MVP Ronson Mazany is one of 12 returning seniors for the men. The NCAA provisional qualifier set a Behrend records in the long-jump competition at 23'0.75", and also earned all-conference honors in the high jump, triple jump and long jump. Jordan Telin, an excellent mid-range sprinter, led the team in the 200m and 400m dash events. Telin also earned Behrend's 2010 Leadership and Scholarship Award for his contributions on and off the field.

Other potential standout seniors include Mike Stark, who after the 2009-10 season ranks second in the decathlon and sixth in the pole vault. These stats earned him all-conference status in each category. Denny Kang and Eston Winn will push each other in the pole vault after sharing the first-place title at the Mideast Regional while clearing 4.76 meters. Rounding out the senior bunch will be John Bowman, who set a school record in the hammer throw with a mark of 134' 1", Shane Cyphert, Steel Flynn, Michael Johnson, Evern Lee, Steve Monnie, and Calvin Schmader.

Third-year athletes are Gregory Benscoter, and Carl Kallgren. Former 1500m all-conference performer, Kallgren is a solid middle-distance runner and the team has faith he will continue to improve as he develops his running maturity. Benscoter is a sprinter who will be asked to contribute in individual events and relay teams.

A packed sophomore group includes Dylan Beck, John Cerminara, Braden Davis, Chris Fabish, Ryan Frankowski, James Griffith, Nick Marzka, Anthony Mott, Alexander Myers, Nick Panucci, Jeremy Tiedemann, and Craig Webb.

The women's track & field team consists of six seniors. These seniors include last year's Co-MVP duo, Mandy Wehrle. Wehrle earned all-league honors in the 400m dash for the third straight season as well as in the 4x100m and 4x400m relays. She is the school record holder in the 400m, 4x100m, and the 4x400m. Tanisha Wheatley earned all-conference status last season in the 3000 meter steeplechase finishing fifth place at the Mason Dixon Conference Championships. Kylie Swanson is an accomplished athlete. The senior holds a 10' 0" school record in the pole vault. Coming off fine cross-country seasons, Liz Keller, Alex Falvo and Jenna Fatica, look to give it their all in their last year in this program. Fatica will be expected to carry a large role in both the 4x400m relay team and in the women's 800m race.

Anchoring the juniors will be Katie Monoskey and Courtney Smith. After setting the school record in the shot put a season ago, Monoskey was named the teams Co-MVP. Monoskey is also revered as the most accomplished thrower in school history through her first two seasons as a Lion. She holds records in the discus and hammer throw. Smith will be returning to the track and field team after a one-year hiatus and will contribute in the long-distance events.

The sophomores are led by Victoria Harwood. Harwood was last year's Rookie of the Year after setting school records in the heptathlon and the pole vault. She was also named all-conference in pole vault an as a member of the 4x100m, and the 4x400m relay teams. Other second-year notables are Angela Ferree, Katie Patterson, Angela Sweeney, Katie White, and Elizabeth Masteller, who all look to build on their freshman performances.

In total there are 30 freshmen who make up the largest recruiting class in program history. The added depth should help the team sustain their dominance for the coming years. The Coaching knows that if they learn from the upper classman, Behrend will be a regular contender in their conference title for the foreseeable future.

"Our rookies have tons of potential but will need to develop their skills to compete at the collegiate level," said Cooper. "With the help of the senior class that learning curve should be shortened."

The Lions will kick the outdoor season at the Bill Van Horn Invitational on March 26, before competing in the first of two meetings at Westminster on April 16. The 2011 Mason Dixon Conference Championships will be held on April 29 and 30^th.