Trackwomen look to Patriot Games as Big Ten Championships preview

Tom Clancy may have written the book, but the Penn State women's indoor track team will participate in its own version of the "Patriot Games."

Tomorrow at 11 a.m. the Lady Lions will travel to Virginia to compete in the George Mason Patriot Games.

This will another highly competitive meet, but with fewer teams than in last weekend's Boston Terrier Classic. There will only be about 10 schools competing -- most notably Ohio State, George Mason, North Carolina State and Georgetown.

"It is always nice to get a look at a Big Ten school before we face them at the Big Ten Championships," Penn State senior Carleen Martin said. "It gives us a good look at what we should be expecting."

Martin is looking to improve on two things tomorrow. The high jumper wants to improve on her second-place finish at last year's Patriot Games and she also wants to rebound from a disappointing meet last week in Boston.

"Last week my approach was horrible and it really scared me, but I have been practicing on that all week and I look forward to George Mason," Martin said. "George Mason has a great facility and I look to do well there."

In Penn State coach Teri Jordan's eyes, this is just another building block of a season she hopes will conclude with a Big Ten Championship in either indoor or outdoor or maybe even both.

"Each meet has it purposes and I am really looking for the team to build on what we have been doing all year," Jordan said.

The team also sees this a building block. Senior Erica Bosler said the meet is an in-between meet for the team. Last week was the Boston Terrier and next week half the team will travel to Butler and the other half to Cornell.

The athletes will use the meet this weekend to improve their times and gain more strength as the competition gets better.

"I am looking to improve on my times and gain confidence as the season is winding down," Bosler said.

Another thing Jordan and the athletes agree on is that this meet will be close to home. Penn State does not host a meet until the outdoor season, so the Lions are just happy when they are close to home.

"We have to travel every weekend to get this competition, so it's always nice when we do not have to travel that far to get it," Jordan said.

With all the excitement and enthusiasm, the Lions hope to turn in a best-selling performance.