This weekend, the Lady Lions will be the rookie team at the women's indoor track and field Big Ten championship meet. But do not expect any rookie doubts or apprehension from this team. That is just not their style.

"Our team really wants to show the other teams what we've got,"said Coach Teri Jordan. "We're not scared, and I like that attitude."

Last weekend's meet at George Mason was used to tune up the troops for Jordan, but it also proved the Lady Lions are a team ready to demand respect.

Jill Mallon, despite missing the early portion of the schedule due to injury, is at midseason form. The freshman ran the 800 meters in 2 minutes, 13.12 seconds, proving to Jordan that she is ready to compete on the 4X800 relay team this weekend in Columbus.

The 600 meters belonged to Penn State as they swept the top four places, led by Mary Beth Powers' 1:36.04 first-place finish. Alicia Porro (1:36.70), Dawn Eidson (1:38.46) and Amy Kopf (1:38.63) rounded out the top places.

Shot putter Kim Kessel, showing steady improvement, nailed down first place with a season-best chuck of 49-4. Holly Jones placed second in the high jump, leaping 5-6 while Danielle Gilliat finished third.

Performances such as these have the Lady Lions surging into the Big Ten meet with nothing but optimism.

"It looks like we are peaking just as we are going into the Big Ten meet," said Jordan. "Each week we are improving. We still have a long way to go, but we are definitely going in the right direction."

Being their first year in the conference, the Lady Lions realistically are not expecting to win the meet. It will take some adjusting to the new competition, and no matter how they fare, it will be a learning experience for the squad.

"We don't know what to expect from the Big Ten," Jordan said. "We will learn from others how attack the championship. It might take us a year or so to figure out the Big Ten."

One thing Jordan knows she can expect from the meet is that her team will come up against major league competition from Wisconsin, Illinois, and Ohio State.

Wisconsin, led by blazing middle-distance competitors, has won the outdoor Big Ten championship meet two consectutive years and also captured the indoor title in 1990. Reigning indoor champ Illinois will command respect at the meet and Jordan compared Indiana's well rounded personnel to the Penn State squad.

With teams like Michigan and Wisconsin boasting strong middle-distance runners, it may be difficult for the Lady Lions to rack up many points in these events.

The key to the meet could be the performance of season long standout Shelley Mitchell. The senior will compete in the pentathlon on Friday (a 10-point event) and on Saturday she will enter the hurdles, high jump, and the mile relay. A lot is riding on Mitchell's shoulders, is she nervous?

"I've been in situations like this before, so I don't feel pressured," said Mitchell. That is the attitude Jordan likes.

Mitchell said a relaxed and confident attitude is critical for Penn State success.

"Everyone just has to compete up to their potential," said Mitchell. "We have to concentrate, and not be afraid. The main thing is the attitude, because physically we are ready."

The NCAA provisionally qualified two-mile relay team of Penn State and the talented mile-relay team loom as potential point scorers for the Lady Lions.

Jacky Brown, performing execeptionally recently, will be counted on in the sprinting events while Kim and Kris Kelly will anchor the distance. The sister duo took the week off at George Mason to replenish their strength. The rest was well deserved, considering the gruelling schedule they had been facing.

Jordan would like to have all of the team members tuned-up, rested and ready to race like a fine stock car by this weekend.

"Physically we are ready," she said. "We will do some quality practices early in the week and then let off."