Plagued once again by sickness and injury, Coach Teri Jordan breathed a sigh of relief that the women's track relay teams did not attempt to qualify for NCAAs this past weekend in Syracuse.

That's the good news. The bad news is, the coach cannot be sure that all the relay runners will be healed in time to try and qualify in Sunday's Mobile Invitational meet in Fairfax, Va.

Neither the mile nor two-mile relay team competed in Syracuse this past weekend.

Although the two-mile relay squad missed the NCAA cutoff of 8 minutes, 58 seconds with a 8:59.10 clocking in Tennessee, Jordan is confident the group will hit the mark in Virginia. The members of the team are Shelley Mitchell, Laurie Morrow, Mary Beth Powers and Dawn Eidson. Of the four, only Mitchell was in good health at the Syracuse meet. But even she admitted she felt worn out.

Of course, competing in four events will do that to a runner. Mitchell may have been tired but her performance was no indication.

Mitchell established herself as a legitimate threat in the 55-meter hurdles by blazing to a second-place finish in 8.08 seconds. The Penn State record for the event, belonging to Carla Criste, is 8 seconds flat.

"At the beginning of the season I didn't really concentrate too much on the hurdles," Mitchell said. "This weekend things really came together though. I guess it was just the competition and the adrenaline."

In addition, Mitchell tied for second place in the high jump with teammates Holly Jones and Liz Fredgren, each jumping 5-4. In the long jump Mitchell leaped 18-8 for sixth place and in the 200 meters she dashed to a fifth-place finish in 26.40.

The versatility and improvement of the senior has brought a smile to Jordan's face.

"Shelley has gotten faster and stronger," Jordan said. "She had been concentrating on the relay but by lowering her time from 8.24 to 8.08 she has a chance of qualifying in the hurdles. She is doing fabulous in all events."

The NCAA qualifying time for the hurdles is 7.98, a mark Mitchell said she is confident she can reach, but at Mobile the focus will be on the relay.

The mile relay team of Leslee Giordano, Jacky Brown, Powers and Mitchell also hopes return to sound health and put forth an NCAA-qualifying time. On Saturday Giordano had a fever and Brown experienced leg cramps, but as Jordan pointed out, none of the injuries were too serious.

A bright spot for the squad was evident in Jill Mallon's season debut after returning from an injury. Mallon dashed the 400 meters in 58.10 for fourth place.

"Jill looked exceptional," Jordan said. "The training she missed hasn't hampered her at all. She looked strong, she probably could have ran another lap."

Should any members of the relay teams be unable to perform, Mallon will serve as the replacement.

While these team members team toil in Virginia at the Mobile Invitational the Kelly sisters, Kim and Kris, will travel to Memphis in an effort to qualify for the Cross Country World Championship in the 4,000 meters.

"They have an excellent chance," Jordan said. "They have proven themselves so all they have to do is go in and run like they are capable."

In Syracuse both ran personal bests in the 3,000 meters with Kim coming in fourth with a 9:50.00 and Kris seventh (9:57.40).

The remainder of the squad will travel to West Virginia on Saturday to compete in the Hardee Invitational.

Practice this week may be a telling experience for the Lady Lions as they try to prepare for the pertinent weekend while at the same time heal the wounded. Mitchell said preparation should be more mental then physical.

"To be honest a lot of people seemed tired (in Syracuse)," Mitchell said. "I guess the tough competition two weeks in a row wore a lot of us out, myself included. Hopefully by the weekend everybody will be back to normal and ready to compete. Physically we are capable, we have to be mentally ready."

Jordan said the practice sessions this week would stress quality over quantity and she hopes that the same will hold true at West Virginia, Virginia and Tennessee.