Trackwomen head East for UPenn Invitational

This week the Lady Lions will start building from that base as they compete in the University of Pennsylvania Invitational tomorrow. Approximately a dozen schools will attend the one-day meet.

After a solid first meet in which many competitors notched lifetime bests, including junior Jen Pastore's record-breaking launch of 199 feet in the javelin, the Lions are looking for consistency early in the season.

"I'd be happy if we do as well as last week," senior discus and hammer thrower Julie Schaadt said, "because consistency is important."

Penn State wants to stay on the current path, however short it may be, and carry that consistency into the postseason.

"Right now we're building for Big Tens and the NCAAs," coach Teri Jordan said. "Starting out the season, we want to continue to build and get more qualified."

The Lions won't put pressure on themselves to achieve their peak performances tomorrow, Jordan said. This early in the season, improvement is the key.

"We want to improve on our marks and get more confidence," Schaadt said. "It's the confidence to do well for the big meets."

Jordan plans to tinker with the lineup tomorrow. She said she hopes to find some missing pieces to her winning formula.

"I'm going to do some different things by moving people around," she said. "We hope to do the best we can under the circumstances."

-- by Kevin Bricker