Spending seven years with the Penn State women's track and field team has left assistant coach Dayna Holston with a lifetime of memories and an abundance of honors associated with her name. Her newest achievement is being named to the 2003 Junior Pan-American National Championship Games coaching staff.

"She's definitely a great young role model," Penn State women's track and field coach Beth Alford-Sullivan said. "She is very deserving of the position."

Holston was nominated as a potential candidate last year. She found out that she was named to the coaching roster in December at the U.S. Track and Field Coaches Association meeting in Kansas City, Mo.

"I am just thrilled," Holston said. "I'm still young in the profession and this is a good stage in my career."

Holston was named Penn State's assistant coach in 1996 and hasn't looked back since. She has had tremendous success in building a strong foundation of athletes for Penn State and a good developing program for the Nittany Lion throwers. With the women's track team looking to continue with momentum into the future, Holston's presence is a great step in the right direction.

All these qualifications made her a prime choice for the Pan-Am Games.

"I think her attribute of wanting to succeed is infectious," senior and team captain Deshaya Williams said. "Her desire to win is infectious and that is the type of thing you would want on a national team."

The games will run from July 17-19 in the tropical climate of Barbados. Talented young athletes, ages 19 and under, are handpicked from all regions of the country to join in the three-day meet. Two athletes are chosen to take part in each race and event, excluding relays. The United States compilation team will compete against other teams from numerous nations.

"This is a good opportunity for me to get exposure," Holston said. "I'm looking to get my feet wet."

While she is at the games, Holston will also have the opportunity to scout new upcoming talent for the Penn State women's team.

"It certainly won't hurt to take a look at a good recruiting hotbed," Alford-Sullivan said.

Her past trials with recruiting have proved to be lucrative. Recruits such as Williams, a previous Junior Pan-American team member and champion, and sophomore Kate Johnston, Penn State record holder in the hammer throw, have been key to the Penn State track and field team during the past few years.

"Dayna does a great job," Williams said. "She does everything to make sure we excel."

Her very own collegiate career with the Nittany Lions is as impressive as her coaching stats. Holston worked her way to the NCAAs twice with qualifying marks in the javelin. She is also placed third in 1992 at the Big Ten Competition.

Her high school days were spent perfecting her talent in throwing. Holston was once ranked No. 2 in the nation by USA Today in the javelin.

Because of all this, in 2000, she was inducted into the Washington-Greene County chapter of the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame. She was only the second woman ever elected at the time.

As an accomplished former Penn State athlete, as a successful coach, there is no doubt that Holston will be a great addition to the Junior Pan-American Championships Game staff.