The men's track team is out of the starting blocks and midway through the season, just about on course.

"The performances were good so far," Coach Harry Groves said. "However, we must come on in the next few weeks and hit that higher level in order to expect to win our tough meets."

In its first meet, the Nittany Lion Invitational, the team competed very competitively, winning six events.

Groves was especially proud of Brian Kelly, who set a school record in the pentathalon.

"He's only a sophomore," Groves said, "which is a big plus for us, since he will be around to help us for the next few years."

In their second meet, and first scoring meet, the Lions went up against Michigan, Ohio State and Michigan State.

In that meet, the Lions finished third, behind Michigan and Ohio State.

"The guys competed well," Groves said. "It's hard for these kids to do well, since we didn't practice over Christmas and most of the teams we'll face this season did."

Groves was referring to most of the Big Ten universities, which turn Christmas into an excuse to practice and prepare for their grueling schedules, which start in the middle of January.

"Sure, it gives them a big advantage," Groves said. "But, it's not fair to the kids to keep them from their families, especially since most of our long distance runners also run cross country in the fall, so they need a break."

Penn State's third meet, the Syracuse Invitational, an open meet, the Lions survived, in the eyes of Groves.

"There was a lot of good, quality competition in that meet," he said. "We were lucky to put on a decent showing of ourselves."

In their fourth meet, the Hardee's Invitational, held at West Virginia University, the Lions took four first places and broke two meet records and a school record.

The 400-meter relay team set a meet record with a time of 3 minutes, 16.66 seconds, just three seconds shy of qualifying for nationals, and Mason Ternay set a meet and school record with a 17-foot jump in the pole vault, but came in second because he attempted more jumps than John Core, from West Virginia, who tied Ternay.

"Mason has done a good job in every meet so far this year," Groves said. "He, along with Kelly, Andy Scott, Aidan O'Reilly and Antonio Davis, have really stood out in my mind so far this season."

"I'm just trying to get points for the team," Kelly said. "Whatever else happens to me is just an extra bonus for having a good season."

Groves thinks a successful season for the Lions would be to finish in the top five in the Big Ten for indoor track. But, if they get that far, don't expect Groves, much less his team, to stop there.