The Big 10's name will still reflect the number of teams in the conference for women's track and cross country even after Penn State joins because Northwestern dropped its program last year.

Also, because the Big 10 has no rule requiring its schools to participate in a minimum number of dual meets, it is quite possible that the only change in the women's schedule will be adding the Big 10 Championships, Coach Teri Jordan said.

"For the majority, my guess is that we'll keep with the quality national and international meets like the Millrose Games and the Dogwood Relays. Basically, I just think the conference meets will be the things that will change," Jordan said.

Even though the Lady Lions will probably not be facing Big 10 schools in many dual meets, the conference's overall strength in track and cross country won't be a surprise. Penn State has always competed against Big 10 schools at several invitationals, such as the Florida Invitational and the Dogwood Relays.

"They're just an incredible conference," Jordan said.

Wisconsin has dominated the conference in recent years, especially in cross country, earning six consecutive Big 10 titles from 1983 to 1988. Like Penn State and Pac-10 representative Oregon, the Lady Badgers consistently go to nationals in cross country.

"(Wisconsin's) program as well as ours is very, very strong in the distances and always has been," Jordan said.

Jordan also mentioned Indiana and Michigan State as having well-rounded programs. Illinois and Ohio State are usually sprinting specialists, she said.

Wisconsin assistant coach Sue Tallard said Big 10 coaches have not yet discussed Penn State's entry to the conference. "We look forward to the new competition, but we have no stand as a group," she said.

Jordan also explained that the administration realizes the women's track and cross country programs must receive additional funding to be competitive in the Big 10. That would include increased scholarship and travel money, she said.

Currently, the team is funded at 12 scholarships, or three-quarters of what the Big 10 schools have. Big 10 schools are all fully-funded; they receive 16 scholarships, the NCAA limit.

Although Jordan would like the team to be fully funded, Assistant Athletic Director Sue Scheetz is unsure about when the budget will be finalized and what it will include.

"At this point we are gathering as much information as we possibly can . . . Naturally, in many sports, budgetary decisions will have to made just on travel alone. It's difficult right now not knowing how soon you're going to go in (to the Big 10).

Budgets are not the only uncertain aspect of the conference move: the Lady Lions' future participation in the East Coast Athletic Conference championships is also undecided.

Both Scheetz and Big 10 Assistant Commissioner Phyllis Howlett were unsure about the Big 10's policy regarding its teams having membership in outside conferences.

Currently, the Atlantic 10 doesn't have a conference championship in track, and only sponsored its first cross country championship for last fall. As a result, the ECAC championships have become the regional focal point for Penn State.

ECAC Commissioner Clayton Chapman welcomes Penn State's continued participation in the ECAC championships. And, if the Big 10 and scheduling permits, Jordan would also like to continue the teams' participation in the championships.

Two Big 10 regulations that will definitely have at least a limited effect on the women's track and cross country programs are a traveling limit of 28 athletes and a one-year restriction from competition on junior college transfers.

Though Penn State has no restrictions now on the number of team members who can travel, it usually travels with about 30 members. Therefore, Jordan believes the rule will affect only a couple athletes in their developing stages.

"It may become an elitist team to a certain degree," she said. "Of those few (who won't travel), they may just have to stay home, and have home meets and practices and as they get better, travel."

Even though the move to the Big 10 won't have great consequence for women's track and cross country, many of the runners are excited nonetheless.

"It's good because we never had a conference meet, except for the first A-10 in the fall which we won easily," junior Wendy Nelson said. "The Big 10 will have a lot more competition and will be more challenging. And since our schedule will remain so similar, traveling won't be a big deal."