Trackmen fail to surface at invite

The Penn State men's indoor track team got an early taste of what the track surface is going to be like at nationals this year at the RCA Dome in Indianapolis, Ind., but it didn't take advantage of the opportunity.

The Nittany Lions traveled to the Virginia Tech Invitational this weekend, where the track surface at Rector Field House is the same as the surface used at the RCA Dome.

Penn State coach Harry Groves said some members of the team didn't take advantage of good opportunities.

"A lot of people went into the meet mentally unprepared," Groves said. "If it was a boxing match, there would have been a lot of knock-outs against us."

Two members of the team that would have survived a knock-out were George Audu, who finished second in the long jump with a leap of 25-6 ¼, breaking the field house record, and Neal McNutt, who was the top finisher in the 35-pound weight throw with a toss of 63-8 ¼. This was the fifth time in six weeks McNutt has finished on top in the 35-pound weight throw.

Audu said he was pleased in breaking the field house record, but qualifying for nationals and breaking his personal record were bigger accomplishments.

Groves was happy with the performances he received from McNutt and Audu considering the competition they went up against.

"Audu beat a top-class field," Groves said, "and McNutt is getting consistent. He threw and beat a good field."

Audu finished second behind top international jumper Roland McGhee, who leaped 26-4 ¼. McGhee was one of the many open athletes that competed and tore up the competition, Groves said.

"This was the first meet the competition was tough," Audu said. "I am happy I performed the way I did."

Audu credits a lot of his success this season to training hard with teammate John Gorham. Gorham couldn't be any happier for Audu because his jump qualified him for the NCAAs later in the season.

"I am glad to see him jump far," Gorham said. "He has been injured this season and now he's in nationals."

Gorham jumped well, finishing fifth in the competition with a jump of 24-10 ½, but said he has to jump better to join his teammate at nationals. The strength of the competition this weekend was a big help.

"It was the best long jump I've been in," he said. "We were all trying to pump each other up."

The Lions will now prepare this week to host the Presidents Invitational meet this Saturday at the Greenberg Indoor Sports Complex. This is the Lions' last meet before heading to Purdue for the Big Ten Championships.