Virginia Tech Invitational to provide trackmen with best of both worlds

The Penn State men's indoor track team will get the best of both worlds this weekend -- top individual competition and a fast track of which to take advantage.

Penn State is taking a break from team competition this weekend when it travels south for the Virginia Tech Invitational in Blacksburg, Va. for individual competition only.

Virginia Tech coach Russ Whitenack organized this event because it brings together quality teams, making each event very competitive.

"We run big meets every weekend," Whitenack said. "This weekend is the best college meet of the season."

After all competition is registered, athletes will be divided into brackets by times and distances so the competition is equal at all different skill levels.

Penn State coach Harry Groves said at invitational meets athletes compete against unknown competition and try to use each other for maximum performance.

"The object is to line up the best in more competitive sections and let them go at it," Groves said.

One of the advantages of an invitational, Groves said, is the marks received during the meet can count toward team power ratings. The power rating is a system used to rank the top track teams in the country. Teams have to submit their marks to the committee each week or they won't get ranked.

One goal for the Lions is to get qualifying marks for the NCAAs, sprinter Joe Loner said. And, he added, the Virginia Tech track is a great place to do it.

"This track will allow us to take full advantage of our training and ability," Loner said. "It is going to give us a chance to showcase ourselves and what we are capable of doing."

Whitenack said the Rector Field House is one of five in the United States with its unique track surface. Some of the other facilities with tracks like Virginia Tech are the RCA Dome and the Georgia Dome.