KUTZTOWN, Pa. – In honor of two former greats at the helm of the KU program, the Kutztown University men's and women's track and field teams will host the fifth annual Mondschein Multi this Thursday and Friday, April 10-11 on the campus of Kutztown University.
Brian Mondschein and his father, Irv, brought years of success to the Kutztown track and field program. In 14 years as head coach, Brian brought home 18 conference titles and 10 PSAC Coach of the Year awards. During his tenure, KU boasted 90 individual conference champions and 38 All-America honors.
His father, Irv, was a decathlete in the 1948 Olympics and won a pair of NCAA titles in the high jump. After years of competing and coaching, Irv went through a brief retirement before returning to the track in 1992 to assist his son Brian in the Maroon and Gold.
As specialists in the multi events, the Mondschein meet will consist of the heptathlon on the women's side, and the decathlon on the men's side. During the multi events, the competitors will be tested on numerous skills on both the track and in the field. The heptathlon is comprised of seven individual events including the 100 hurdles, high jump, shot put, 200, long jump, javelin, and the 800. The decathlon will involve 10 events, usually split evenly between two days. Following the 100 meter dash, the men will compete in the long jump, shot put, high jump, 400, 110 hurdles, discus, pole vault, javelin and the 1500.
The Golden Bears will have three representatives in the heptathlon this weekend. Junior
Christina Descano (Broomall, PA/Marple Newtown) placed seventh at last year's meet and holds the second best score so far this season in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC). Sophomore
Vicki Schaffer (Audubon, PA/Methacton) finished 13th last year and ranks sixth this season in the PSAC. The final Golden Bear is freshman
Autumn Crouse (Bayville, NJ/Central Regional), whose score of 3,321 at the 2014 Shamrock Invitational ranks 11th in the conference.
On the men's side, KU will be represented by a pair of underclassmen in the decathlon. Sophomore
Tyler Matunis (Girardville, PA/North Schuylkill) finished ninth in last year's event and ranks fourth this season in the PSAC, while freshman
Lucas Kristofits (Lanse, PA/West Branch) ranks fifth.
At last year's meet, Schaffer's 10.78m heave in the shot put was the best in the field for first place. Kutztown's Katie Colburn holds the Mondschein Multi Women's All-Time Record in the 800-meters, setting the high mark of 2:23.65 back in 2010.
The action will kick off at 3 p.m. on Thursday, and will get an early 9 a.m. start on Friday.
