The runners of Penn State's men's cross-country team are going to split up tomorrow while hoping to run in packs.

Confused?

The team has two races at 11 a.m. tomorrow, one at Lehigh University, the other at George Washington University.

The team's goal for both races is to run together to beat the competition.

"We'd love to run as a pack and finish well," said sophomore Erinn Otterson.

Otterson will run in the George Washington Invitational at Bull Run Park in Centreville, Va.

The Washington Invitational will include 10 collegiate teams.

Penn State won the Washington race last year.

While Groves is sending his top runners to the Paul Short Invitational at Lehigh, the Washington Invitational will be a good learning experience for the rest of the team, said sophomore Chris Foster. Foster ran in the Washington Invitational last year.

Foster said the race is a good tune-up for the runners who will move up on the team this year or next season.

The competition at the Washington Invitational is hard to figure out ahead of time, said Nittany Lions coach Harry Groves. He said teams could elect to send their top runners to the race or send their top runners to another race.

Groves said the Short Invitational would include 30 collegiate teams.

The race takes place at the Goodman Campus of Lehigh University.

Some of Penn State's competition could come from Princeton University and the College of William & Mary, Groves said.

"I think we will be right in it," Foster said.

Foster said the team is vastly improved from the beginning of the season because they are running as a team.

Foster said his view of running as a team has changed.

"I didn't think it was that important," Foster said about running as a team. He said he now understands that being a group helps runners be competitive.

Junior Scott Munro said running as a team makes the race easier because you can, "go out and find your teammates."

One person that could help the Nittany Lions in the Short Invitational is Dan Mazzocco.

Mazzocco did not run in last week's race at James Madison, in which the Lions won with six runners taking the top seven spots.

"We are trying to get him as healthy as we can," Groves said concerning Mazzocco's absence.

Groves said Mazzocco would run in the Short Invitational.

With Mazzocco, who was the first Penn Stater to cross the finish line at the Spiked Shoe Invitational, on the course, the team should be able to have a stronger pack at the Short Invitational.