"There is a lot of good competition coming this weekend, it's going to be our first real good test," middle distance runner Mark Miller said. "We have had some good teams and individuals come in the past few weeks but this is a whole new level. I know we're all really looking forward to it and going to step up and compete."
Miller, who is schedule to race in the 800-meter event, is one of the favorites in the tough field that will likely produce strong times for what is still an early season competition.
"My goals [for the race] are to go out as fast as I've been going out," Miller said. "We hope to go through at about a 52 [second first lap] and try to break one minute 50 seconds.
"That's the goal, it's my first real 800 of the season. Having a good race is the key point. The competition is amazing. If we all just run like we can it should be a real fast race."
Head coach Beth Alford-Sullivan shares Miller's confidence about the 800, which should be one of the key races of the weekend.
"He's ready to run, his 500 last weekend was a personal best for him," Alford-Sullivan said. "He's had a great week of practice and we are excited to put together a fast race and let it go. He's going to be a good crowd-pleaser for everybody."
Another event on the men's side that should provide excitement for the fans in attendance is the 60-meter dash. Several Penn State football players will be running in the open meet.
"We are competing three of our football players -- Justin King, Derek Williams and Devin Fentress," Alford-Sullivan said. "We're excited to have those guys onboard and competing for us."
Distance runner Dan Mazzocco will also be leading the way for the team, as he competes in the 3,000-meter event.
Mazzocco will be looking to build off a personal best in the mile at the Penn State Relays, clocking in with an impressive time of 4:10.0 -- three seconds ahead of his previous best performance
"He's really in a competitive mindset to put together a great race this weekend and he's going to have it setup for him," Alford-Sullivan said.
Other athletes that are looking for strong performances at the Penn State National are Ryan Kleintop in the jumps, high jumper Ryan Fritz, shot putters Dane Miller and Steve Myers, distance runners Tim Johnson, Brian Fuller, and Tyler McCandless, Alford-Sullivan said.
Even with the lofty goals and expectations for the individual athletes on the men's track and field team, the squad as a whole is poised for a successful weekend competing against some of the nation's best programs.
"When you talk about the teams in total, we stand out and look good," Alford-Sullivan said. "Of course there are great competitors in other programs as well, and we hope to draw it out of them."
