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First Year at Penn State John Gondak enters his second year as an assistant coach at Penn State, working with Director of Track and Field/Cross Country Beth Alford-Sullivan and the Nittany Lion cross country and distance runners. Gondak oversaw the Nittany Lion middle distance runners in 2007, leading junior Mark Miller to third-place finishes in the 800-meters at both Big Ten Championship meets. Gondak also led Miller to a regional-qualifying performance in the event, as well as a victory at the competitive Sea Ray Relays. Off the track, Gondak takes care of many administrative responsibilities within the Nittany Lion program. An outstanding recruiter, Gondak wasted no time in signing one of the top distance classes in the country last year, including top-ranked prep miler Sam Borchers, who won the mile at both the Nike Indoor and Outdoor Championships last year. Borchers' 4:03.33 was the top time by a high schooler in 2007, as well as one of the best marks in prep history. Gondak also inked Coatesville High School twins Kyle and Owen Dawson, who were members of the winning team at last year's Nike Cross Country Nationals, as well as the gold-medal DMR squad at the prestigious Penn Relays. Also making his way to Happy Valley this year is Pennsylvania state cross country champ Lucas Zarzeczny, out of Pittsburgh, Pa. Prior to Penn State, Gondak spent nearly eight seasons at the University of Kentucky before moving to Georgia Tech in 2006. As an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator for the Wildcat middle distance/distance runners, Gondak recruited and coached athletes that garnered numerous collegiate accolades. During his time in Lexington, UK had athletes earn 25 All-America certificates in his event area, while 19 athletes earned All-Southeastern Conference (SEC) honors. In 2002, the UK Women's Cross Country team placed second at the SEC Championship (best finish in over 10 years). The UK men's team advanced to the 2003 NCAA Championship by finishing second in the Southeast Region. Some individual accomplishments of Gondak's Kentucky athletes include Hunter Spencer's third place finish in the mile at the 2002 NCAA Championship, Beth Heimann's sixth place finish at the 2004 NCAA Championship, Thomas Morgan winning the 2003 SEC and Southeast Regional Cross Country title, and Caity Phillips winning the 2004 Southeastern Conference 5000 meter Championship. At the 2004 Olympic Trials, UK had six athletes in events ranging from 800 meters to 5000 meters. Prior to working at Kentucky, Gondak, a native of Doylestown, Pa., was the cross country and assistant track and field coach at Toledo from 1996-98. While at Toledo, Gondak was responsible for directing all aspects of the middle distance and distance running programs. Gondak also coached at Georgia Tech during the 1995-96 season, where he worked with the Yellow Jacket's middle distance and distance runners. While at Tech, Gondak helped develop five ACC champions, three NCAA qualifiers, two track and field All-Americans, as well as a cross country All-American. Gondak started out as a walk-on athlete at Syracuse and quickly improved, qualifying for the IC4A Championships as a sophomore, junior and senior in the distance-medley relay and mile run. During his senior year, he was placed on scholarship and named captain of the cross country program. Gondak graduated summa cum laude as the valedictorian of the civil engineering program. He went on to earn his master's degree in civil engineering from Georgia Tech in 1996. Coaching Experience Assistant Coach Assistant Coach Assistant Coach Assistant Coach Outstanding athletes coached Thomas Morgan - SEC Cross Country Champion. Southeast Region Cross Country Champion. Kentucky outdoor 5000 meter school record holder. Allison Grace - Three-time All-SEC in Cross Country. Two-time NCAA Cross Country Championship qualifier. Hunter Spencer - Placed third in the mile at the 2003 NCAA Championship. Ran 3:40.91 in the 1500 meters. Two-time All-American in the mile. Brooke Patterson - SEC Cross Country Runner-up. Placed eighth in the 800 meters at the 2004 NCAA Championship. Kentucky outdoor 800 meter school record holder. David Freeman - Placed seventh in the mile at the 2003 NCAA Championship. 2004 SEC Mile champion. Kentucky indoor 800 meter school record holder (1:47.40). Jean Balan - Kentucky outdoor 800 meter school record holder (1:47.22). Beth Heimann - Placed sixth in the 800 meters at the 2004 NCAA Championship. Three-time All-American in the 800 meters. Kentucky indoor 800 meter school record holder (2:05.72).
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