The women's track and field team had a simple goal for Saturday's Quaker Invitational -- get good performances for Big Tens early in the season. The Lady Lions achieved nearly everything they set out to do.

"We definitely accomplished what we wanted to," Coach Teri Jordan said. "We're using this meet as building blocks."

Since it is early in the season, Jordan didn't want to have the competitors involved in too many meets because of the fatigue which could occur. A prime example of that was allowing Kris and Kim Kelly and Kelli Hunt to take the meet off.

"We were only preparing for Big Tens," Jordan said. "You can't go after Nationals every week. That will wear the kids out too much."

Dayna Holston gained another second place finish in the javelin with a throw of 135.4 feet. Jordan thought the senior hurler may have been under some pressure to improve on her previous mark.

"You just gotta lay back and let it happen -- I tried too hard," Holston said. "You have to trust your technique instead of killing it."

Holly Jones returned from a hip injury to gain a lifetime best in the shotput. In her first outdoor meet, Jones finished in fifth place with a toss of 42-4.

"If she can tie her lifetime best coming off an injury, that's pretty good," Jordan said. "It was a good start and a good sign for her."

Although the team is improving more and more every week, the team has not hit its stride and doesn't want to until the summer.

"We wouldn't want to be peaking now -- not even in May," Jordan said. "I look to see that improve."

Notes:

Kim Hicks finished second in the shot put (43-8). The 4x100 meter relay team also finished second with a time of 48.5 seconds. In the triple jump, Tamara Scott garnered a second place with a jump of 35-8.