Trackmen's Groves wants 'middle of the pack' finish

The Penn State men's indoor track team will be out to get some revenge tomorrow morning when it travels to Iowa to begin competing in the Big Ten championships.

The Nittany Lions are hoping to redeem themselves after finishing a disappointing 10th in the conference a year ago. With the level of competition in the Big Ten, that will be something easier said than done.

Although Penn State coach Harry Groves would like to see his team capture a league title, he said placing in the middle of the conference would make him happy.

"We are hoping to at least finish somewhere in the middle of the pack," Groves said. "If you can compete at that level in a league that is as strong as the Big Ten, it is very satisfying."

Groves said he expects defending champion Wisconsin, along with Minnesota, to be the favorites at the meet but added no team is safe at Big Tens.

"Wisconsin and Minnesota look pretty awesome to me," he said. "You never know what's going to happen in the Big Ten, though, because the meet is so competitive and unpredictable. It never turns out like you think it will."

Penn State's Jamie Cook said he expects Wisconsin to be the favorite tomorrow but said the Lions should not be counted out.

"Wisconsin is just strong across the board, and they have a lot of depth. They are going to do well, but the conference is wide open and anything can happen," Cook said. "We're improving and I think we can surprise some people this year."

The Lions are definitely headed into Big Tens on a high. They recently blasted their competition, racking up first-place finishes in 21 of 34 events at the President's Invitational and the Kane Invitational the last two weekends.

Several Lions including Cook (pentathlon), Damon Reed (55-meter dash), Sean Vego (triple jump) and Joe Loner (800-meter run) have had the best performances of their careers the last two weeks. Reed said there is no reason why the Lions cannot have a strong showing tomorrow.

"I think we have a good shot," he said. "We have as much of a chance as anyone else does."

Reed is among a group of Lions with strong chances of winning individual titles in their events. Reed will be tough to beat in the 55-meter dash, while the ever-improving Joe Loner could take the 800. Cook could be the person to beat in the heptathlon after placing second in the event a year ago.

The 4x800 relay team will also be very tough to beat. In the last few weeks the 4x800 team has been unbeatable, and its string of victories includes a victory in the collegiate championship at the prestigious Millrose games in Madison Square Garden.