Slippery Rock University will host over 600 athletes from 19 colleges for the John Papa Invitational on April 16 at Mihalik-Thompson Stadium. The event will kick off at noon for field events and 2 p.m. for track events, showcasing competitors from all three NCAA divisions. It commemorates legendary coach John Papa, who led the program for more than 35 years and helped achieve the only NCAA team championship in school history. This meet represents the final home competition for Slippery Rock this spring as they prepare for upcoming PSAC Championships.

By the Numbers
  • 19 different colleges participating.
  • 611 unique athletes entered, with a total of 926 entries.
State of Play
  • Slippery Rock men's team has 10 performances in the top 50 nationally among Division II athletes.
  • The women鈥檚 team features nine performances currently ranked in the top 50.
What's Next

Following the Invitational, Slippery Rock will compete at two additional meets next week as final preparations for the PSAC Championships, scheduled for April 30 to May 2 at Shippensburg.

Bottom Line

The John Papa Invitational not only honors a storied coach but also showcases the current talent and depth of the Slippery Rock track and field teams ahead of the crucial conference championships.