The usual men's track entourage was significantly smaller, as Penn State sent just a single relay team made up of only four runners to Fairfax, Va., this weekend. The Lions' purpose was simple -- to qualify for the NCAA Championship. They may have done that and more.

The Lions placed second in the distance medley relay at the Mobil 1 Invitational on Sunday at George Mason University. They set a Penn State record with a time of 9:39.81, which is also an NCAA provisional qualifying time.

The relay team, composed of R.B. Caldwell, James Robbins, Phil Mellott and Bob Hamer, followed close behind Villanova. Georgetown and Florida placed third and fourth, respectively.

The Lions' time broke the school record of 9:40.00 set by Vance Watson, Barry Robinson, Bob Hudson, and Mark Overheim in 1985.

"We're happy with it," said Caldwell, adding, "but it's not that big of a deal."

Their performance in the distance medley relay, one of the few events that was open to collegiate athletes in this weekend's meet, also moved the Lions into fourth place, a good position to eventually qualify as one of the 10 teams in the NCAA Championship.

"We've got a really good shot of being in there," Coach Harry Groves said cautiously. "Although it's a pretty good indication, (we're) not solidly in."

With a new school record and a provisional qualifying time, the relay part of the track team looks fairly solid. But the runners are not yet ready to celebrate.

"Right now we're just provisional like everyone else," Robbins said, "We'll sit around and see what happens."