The Penn State women's track and field squad better know what pressure feels like, because they're about to get a heavy dose this weekend.

At the Big Ten Track and Field championships this weekend in Iowa City, Iowa, the Nittany Lions are, for the first time, favorites.

Perhaps one of the most important reasons they are in this position is because of their talented field athletes.

In the throwing section, the Lions have all around experience in the form of senior Ja'Nai O'Connor and junior Kate Johnston. Both Johnston and O'Connor were finalists at the NCAA championships last year and point scorers at the Big Ten championships.

Ohio State has some extremely talented throwers who gave O'Connor and Johnston a run for their money in the Sykes-Sabock Challenge Cup two weeks ago. Since then, they've been talking a little trash on these Nittany Lions.

"There's something that I believe, and it's not just me. I believe that we're a classy team," O'Connor said, clarifying that her sentiments where also shared by some Big Ten officials as well. "Some officials have told me this too, that we're a classy team. Not to bash [Ohio State], but they're not. What I mean is that we have class because we work together as a group, and they might have a couple top place people but we're together all around.

Unlike the Buckeyes, the Lions aren't big talkers. Instead, the team has gotten to its position of power by de-emphasizing individual performances and preaching team unity and solidarity.

If the Lions are going to live up to their favorite status this weekend, they need to rally around that team-centered focus to help get rid of some of the pressure placed upon them. Penn State women's track coach Beth Alford-Sullivan agreed that this pressure could be used positively.

"I think we can definitely use the pressure as a motivator," she said. "I don't think there's a fear factor involved in this drive. We recognize that even though we romped on Michigan and romped on Ohio State [in the Sykes-Sabock Challenge Cup]; they're going to be coming charging."

Alford-Sullivan noted that the way the Big Ten championships are structured evens the playing field a little bit for teams similar to the Lions in terms of depth at every event, something Michigan prides itself on.

It was also evident that Alford-Sullivan was taking into account some of the pre-meet trash talk among Big Ten rivals, and she knew it was something this team does not need.

"We've got to not let the external talk get to us," she said. "We've gotta be focused in the meet and celebrate afterwards and not think of that during the meet."

The throwing corps, led by the dynamic duo of Johnston and O'Connor, are just one piece of the puzzle for this Lions team.

Other seasoned field veterans like long and triple jumper Chi Chi Aduba and pole vaulter Sara Dougherty, both in their final Big Ten championship, will need to be equally strong.

Perhaps the only weak field area for these Lions would be the four-person high jumper squad, led by walk-on sophomore Megan Burke. Still, Ja'Nai O'Connor offered one last note for even areas in doubt for the Lions.

"I think the team is going to be full of surprises this year, I think they're going to do some things that maybe they didn't expect out of themselves," she said.

To bring home their first-ever Big Ten championship, even if they are favorites, the team will need to do some of those surprising things.