Trackmen control Jim Thorpe Invite
Lions tops in 16 events

By COREY MARKLE
Collegian Sports Writer

The men's track team kicked off its outdoor season on a cold, windy day that was more reminiscent of a winter day rather than one at the beginning of spring.

The host Lions dominated Saturday's Jim Thorpe Invitational, a non-scoring meet, which also featured athletes from Colgate and LaSalle as well as unattached athletes. The Lions battled a gusty wind and each other on their way to winning 16 events.

The wind was so strong it forced the pole vault competition to move inside the Greenberg Indoor Sports Complex.

Penn State Coach Harry Groves said despite the weather, it was important to get the outdoor season underway before the more high-powered meets that await the team later in the season.

"It was a good way to get us started, because next week we have the Colonial (Relays)," Groves said. "It's good to get something under our belt, or else it's like leading lambs to the slaughter."

Groves said some of the better Lion efforts came in the field events because the strong wind really didn't have a negative effect on those events.

Senior Brian Milne set an NCAA provisional qualifying mark in the discus (190-0). In addition to Milne's mark, freshman Neal McNutt took first in the hammer (159-0), and junior Robert Austin captured first in the javelin (214-5).

Several events were dominated by freshmen. Jeremy Culver won the 400 meters (48.92), while Austin Drager (15:50.03) and Jayson Jackson (16:00.73) took the top two spots in the 5,000 meters.

The 1,500-meter race was a five-way duel between Lion teammates. Senior Tom McGlynn (4:00.83) edged senior tri-captain Jake Bartholomy (4:01.93) to take the event. Senior Steve Oliver (4:06.90), freshman Joe Loner (4:07.58) and junior Scott Thompson (4:10.19) rounded out the field.

Bartholomy said the wind affected the endurance of the distance runners and increased their times.

"The wind definitely had an effect," he said. "It made it hard to kick it when you really had to."

Despite the adverse conditions, Bartholomy said the meet was a good way to kick off the outdoor season.

"It was a good start despite the wind," he said. "We had some good performances in the field events and we had some freshmen do well. It was a good way to start."