The Penn State women's cross country team is counting down the days until its Big Ten debut.

It is coming up in less than a week.

And even though the team earned a solid fourth place last year, there is still the desire to be number one.

This may not be a realistic goal this season but the Penn State team should grab ahold of the lead in the Big Ten in the upcoming years.

For now, though, the team may have to be satisfied but not complacent with a number two or three position.

The ease at which the Lions will be able to rise to the top is dependent on continued preparation and what the other Big Ten teams have up their sleeves.

There are really only three teams that the Penn State squad has to consider a top threat: Michigan, Michigan State, and the Wisconsin Badgers.

"Michigan, Wisconsin, and ourselves all are riding the same wave," Penn State women's cross-country coach Beth Alford-Sullivan said. "Right now we are right where we wanted to be for the season. We have a lot of confidence going into Big Tens."

In the world of running Michigan State has seemed to dominate for the past several years. The Spartans are at No. 4 in the NCAA rankings, jumping up two spots from their former position. The team is led by senior Michelle Carson who was last year's winner at the Big Ten Championships. She has continued to dominate throughout the Big Ten. Carson is followed by senior Jamie Krzyminski, the second place finisher at last year's Big Tens. Michigan State will also have the home course advantage making the win all the more inevitable. With many of the top scoring runners graduating this year, though, Penn State will get a chance to take over with its younger squad but again, not for another year.

Wisconsin, who recently dropped down to the No.17 spot in the FinishLynx NCAA Division I poll, one spot ahead of Penn State, has suddenly become a stronger opponent for the Nittany Lion squad than previously expected.

Indiana had been mentioned by Penn State runners as a threat early on but after being riddled with injuries and dropping down to 34th in the FinishLynx rankings, the Hoosiers no longer seem to be likely to provide serious competition.

The Badgers are looking to go out with a bang. Wisconsin's women's cross country coach of 30 years, Peter Tegan is retiring, leaving a team that has been the most successful in the Big Ten during his tenure vulnerable for next season.

The large majority of the best runners on the team are seniors this year, which is another step backward.

But for this season's Big Ten competition, Wisconsin will likely be the team Penn State will have to get by for a second place finish.

Overthrowing Michigan will also require a fight to the finish, though the Wolverines aren't quite as tough as the Badgers or Spartans.

Fifth-year senior Jessie Allen-Young is leading the way alongside teammates Rebecca Walter, the 2002 Big Ten Freshman of the year.

Thus far the Wolverines are ranked 22nd in the FinishLynx NCAA polls for this season.

As for Penn State, the new found strength in the number five, six, and seven runners, as well as the rest of the pack will put the Nittany Lions in position to emerge as the quintessential team to watch for this year and the following season.

The Big Ten competition in Lansing, Mich., should be the first big sign of what is to come for Penn State on a more national big time level.

Landreth should be the key player, setting the pace for the squad, like in previous meets this season.

In previous races, she has been followed by senior captain Maureen Thomas.

Late season break-through runner Chelsea Lenge has been moving up in the pack lately and sophomore Jenny Stevens has consistently been among the Nittany Lions' scorers.

"It's going to be a dog fight to the end," said senior co-captain Maureen Thomas.

"Anything can happen."

Freshman Tracey Brauksieck and senior co-captain Katy Hillard will hope to join them near the front of the pack.

"We are hungry and have high-level program," Alford-Sullivan said.

"It is going to be a full-way battle for the top spots. And we are looking forward to the competition."