This weekend, many Penn State students will head home for a much-deserved break from classes and the daily routine of college life. However, while the bulk of the student body will spend tomorrow lulling in bed, the No. 25 Penn State women's cross country team will spend its morning in a typical way-competing.
At 10 a.m. tomorrow, the squad will take on a field of 18 other top women's teams at the Penn State Blue and White Golf Course in the 34th annual Penn State National Invitational.
Among the squads taking part in the meet are three other top 25 teams, including No. 8 Providence, No. 21 Villanova, and No. 22 William and Mary. Other teams competing include Kutztown and the University of Tennessee.
"We want to keep the meet as simple as always and race hard like we always do," Penn State women's cross country coach Beth Alford-Sullivan said. "We need to focus on our own goals of running a tight pack from one to seven and getting out and into the competition from the start of the race. We are looking forward to the high level of competition and we will respond well to it."
Two weeks ago, the squad captured its second straight Paul Short Invitational title, and gained much-needed momentum heading into the last burst of the regular season.
Following this meet, the squad will head down to Terre Haute, Ind., for the Indiana State Pre National, its final competition before the Big Ten Championships and NCAA Regionals.
"This is not the end of our season by any means," junior Tara Johnson said. "This is like the second phase of our season, with the national invite and then the pre-NCAA meet next weekend.
We are looking to hype up these meets a bit more than we have been and just stay solid until championship race time comes."
Freshman Tracey Brauksieck has been the Nittany Lions' highest finisher in each meet this season, and captured her first collegiate title at the Penn State Spiked Shoe Invitational.
Other leaders for the team include sophomores Molly Landreth and Chelsea Lenge and juniors Katy Hillard and Maureen Thomas.
Now, competing at home for the second time this season, the Lions expect to use the various lessons they have learned and the experience they have gained to propel them to a high finish against top competition.
"The team is healthy and very fit -- we have fought off some colds and sore throats, but overall they are really ready to race," Alford-Sullivan said.
"As the competitions get more challenging and more important, our focus becomes even more confident, competitive and focused. This will be a great test for us, and we are ready to pass the test with flying colors."
