LOCK HAVEN, Pa.- The Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) released its men's indoor track and field awards on Thursday afternoon, and All-American
Ralph Casper (York, Pa./York Suburban) was named Field Athlete of the Year.
This recognition is just the latest in an impressive string of honors for Ralph during the Indoor Track and Field season, as he was also named the Field Athlete of the Meet at the PSAC Championships, along with earning United States Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) All-Region honors, before achieving All-American status at the Indoor Championships. Casper was also recently named the USTFCCCA Atlantic Region Indoor Field Athlete of the Year.
Casper, who earned First Team All-America honors in the shot put at the Division II Indoor Track and Field Championships, with a second-place finish with a school and conference-record-setting mark of 64 feet 3 ¼ inches, was dominant throughout the 22-23 season. The graduate student competed in the shot put six times during the regular season and won the event each time before eventually capturing the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Title with a mark of 61-6 ¼ at the end of February. Casper's best performance in this event came at the Penn State tune-up in the final meet of the regular season, logging a mark of 62-1 ¾ to win the event and set a new meet record in the process.
This effort allowed Casper to make the trip to Virginia Beach as the third seed in the shot put, which he improved upon at the Championships, finishing second overall with his record-setting mark of 64-3 ¼. This second-place finish is the highest finish by a West Chester men's track and field squad member at the Indoor Championships since Jarrett Eaton placed third in the 60m hurdles at the 2008 Indoor Championships.
Casper also competed well in the weight throw throughout the year, recording a personal-best mark of 62-1 ¾ at the PSAC Indoor Championships. This effort also allowed him to finish second overall and earn All-Conference honors in this event.
Casper and West Chester return to action this weekend to kick off the 2023 Outdoor Season at home with the WCU Invitational.
