Trackwomen psyched for Big Ten tourney

By DANIELLE NEEDLE
Collegian Sports Writer

The signs hung in the Lady Lion track team's locker room yesterday afternoon proved Penn State (2-1) is not planning to repeat last season's 10th-place finish at the Big Ten Championships.

"Kris, a little something to psyche you up for the 5000 and the 3000-meter run. And a few goodies to get you to 'blow' the competition away," shouted one brightly-colored poster meant for senior Kris Kelly.

The mystery teammate who left the sign to psyche Kelly up for a 7:30 a.m. start tomorrow and Sunday at the championships at Michigan State attached lollipops to it and left it leaning against the locker room wall.

It was crowded by other signs and treats left for her sister, Kim, and other members of the team.

The "secret psycher" gifts are part of the team's efforts to prepare themselves to compete this weekend.

"Everybody knows what you like, and they do little things that will get you psyched up," senior distance runner Kim Harrity said.

Coach Teri Jordan called the team "keen" and "excited" for the weekend.

"I've never seen a team come together and be so supportive of one another," she said.

In addition to "secret psychers," sprinters and hurdlers met yesterday with a sports psychologist to practice relaxation techniques while distance runners cross-trained in the White Building's pool.

Kris Kelly will have more than the poster and candy inspiring her on Sunday -- she is the No. 2 seed for the 5,000 meters. She will be joined in the event by Harrity, fifth-ranked Kelli Hunt and Kim Kelly, all of whom Jordan hopes will qualify for NCAAs.

Jordan has especially strong feelings about Kim Kelly's prospects, even though she has not run the event yet this season due to illness.

"It doesn't matter," Jordan said. "I can see her qualifying for nationals her first 5,000 of the year."

Other Lady Lions going into the meet with high seeds are Holly Jones in the high jump, Kim Hicks in shot put and Caryn Benjamin in the pentathlon.

"We definitely are ready to go and do what we need to do," Jordan said.