When many of the nation's best track athletes gather at one place for a weekend, the sparks are sure to fly before the dust has a chance to settle on the track.

And even though the USAir Invitational was an early-season meet, it still had representation from over 250 schools around the country.

Most importantly, however, with the prestigious Millrose Games in front of them, the invitational was a good sign of what the future holds for many of the Lions who participated in the meet held at East Tennessee State University this weekend.

"We were active in a lot of events," Coach Harry Groves said. "But more importantly we placed in a lot of them with a couple of seconds, thirds and fourths. Anything you get here is a real plus with the best collegiate and open athletes."

Many track athletes use these invitational meets as an opportunity to qualify for the IC4A and NCAA competitions which are held in March. And on Friday and Saturday, several Penn State athletes not only qualified but turned in career performances.

Shot putter Phil Caraher threw a 61'7½", which was good enough to place fourth in the event and automatically qualify him for nationals. The throw was also a career best for the All-American as he continues to improve.

But an interesting twist to that event was the presence of last year's NCAA champion and PSU graduate C.J. Hunter.

Hunter, who graduated last year, currently lives in Denver, Colo., where he works at U.S. West Bell Telephone, a track-related job which sponsors athletes and allows him to shot put.

And throw it Hunter did; farther than his NCAA-Championship throw of 64-plus feet last year. He managed a 65'3", giving him second place for the competition.

"That was a good start for him," Groves said. "But he really misses college. He came over and hung out with the guys all of the time."

Doug Walter turned in a solid performance in the invitational mile as he finished eighth with a time of 4:05.49. That run, his best of the season, clinched Walter a berth in the NCAA Championships. He already qualified for the IC4A tournament in last week's Cornell meet.

"Even though he finished eighth and back in the pack, he was still the second collegian to finish," Groves said.

The 3,000-meter run, like the shot put, also featured another Lion graduate. Aidan O'Reilly, who ran a 8:24.8, barely defeated Kenny Frazier in a photo-finish.

Besides the invitational events which included only the very best athletes, the USAir also sponsored open events, which several Penn State athletes entered.

Tri-captain Mike Crescenzi joined the growing list of IC4A qualifiers as he finished third in the mile with a 4:12.14.

"We went out real slow, but we picked it up towards the end," Crescenzi said. "The competition was fierce with a lot of the SEC and ACC there."

It was the open events where the mile and two-mile relay teams starred, as they too secured births in the IC4As.

The two-mile relay team of Joe Stegbauer, Bob Hamer, O'Reilly and Walter finshed in 7:36.9, second only to Georgetown's 7:31.66. The mile relay team of Brian Kelley, Jerry Robinson, Kevin Cripanuk and John Strange finished third in 3:15.5.

Mason Tiernay pole vaulted 16'6", a season best for him and a height which also qualified him for IC4As.

"As a team we are looking fine. We have the same amount of qualifiers this year as we ordinarily get," Groves said.