At the Central Collegiate Championships, there was no looking back for the Penn State women's indoor track team. Despite resting several of the team's top runners, the Nittany Lions easily took the win on Saturday with 150 team points.

Other schools such as Bowling Green and Akron were present at the competition but failed to present any opposition for the Lions. Kent State, which hosted the 12-team event, earned second place with 101 points. The Golden Flashes had been expected to offer the biggest challenge, but their efforts were not enough to prevent Penn State from capturing its second consecutive win.

"We broke away the last half of the meet and dominated most of the events," Penn State women's track and field coach Beth Alford-Sullivan said.

A few typically key members of the team took this week to rest up in anticipation for the Penn State National Open next weekend, though this was not obvious by the score or overall team performance. There was no lack of strength or momentum for the Lions as Penn State scored in all but one event.

"Even with certain people sidelined, we did a great job overall," Alford-Sullivan said.

Some of the distance runners, such as Molly Landreth and Tracey Brauksieck, did not compete at all, while others ran in fewer events than normal.

"We just relied on our depth. We have that flexibility," Alford-Sullivan said.

"You can't go to the well every single week, so we were happy to give some people a rest."

Last week's Big Ten track and field athlete of the week, Chi Chi Aduba, did not participate in the triple jump, but won the long jump with a mark of 19-4.

Junior Connie Moore also had an easier workload, competing in and winning the 60-meter dash, but holding out of her signature event, the 200-meter dash.

Despite a slightly slower paced meet with less pressure, several members of the team posted wins in their events for the second consecutive week, including junior Sara Dougherty. She won the pole vault with a mark of 12-3 1/2.

"I think I made a lot of steps towards jumping better later in the season," Dougherty said. "Next week, I'd like to provisionally qualify and place well."

Senior Deshaya Williams continued her strong performance in the throwing events, winning the shot put with an impressive throw of 51-2 3/4. The Lions swept the event with juniors Ja'nai O'Connor and Lexi Benamati finishing second and third, respectively.

"Our performances were amazing," Alford-Sullivan said.

Penn State's athletes were not the only ones to earn high honors. Alford-Sullivan earned Coach of the Meet Award honors.

"She [Alford-Sullivan] is doing a really great job," Dougherty said. "We've really improved, not just individually but with the whole team atmosphere and she's the cause of that."

Overall, the Lions used this meet for preparation for next week, which will no doubt test the strength they have shown thus far.