They've paid their dues, time after time. They've had their share of sand kicked in their face, but they've come through.

As Queen's "We Are the Champions" blared from a tinny portable CD player, the Penn State women's track team returned home at 5:30 p.m. yesterday to an intimate victory celebration at the Multi-Sport Facility.

Unfortunately, the Nittany Lions weren't able to bring the entire team to the Big Ten Championships in Iowa City, Iowa, this past weekend.

The few athletes that were unable to make the trip decorated the lower lobby of the Multi-Sport Facility with blue and white streamers, confetti and a few stuffed-animal lions to celebrate the program's first-ever Big Ten Championship title.

Penn State Athletic Director Tim Curley welcomed the team after the athletes walked together from the bus, holding their new hardware. Curley expressed his appreciation and support for the newest championship in the Penn State lexicon.

"These things are hard to win," Curley said, referring to the trophy he held high while addressing the team during the celebration.

"I've just been floating on cloud nine since I got the phone call yesterday from Iowa. Everybody here's just so proud."

Penn State assistant track coach Jeff McAuley led the team in a victory lap around its home track, and even Curley -- suit and all -- ran with pack.

Penn State women's track coach Beth Alford-Sullivan, hoarse from the weekend, expressed a sense of relief after finally reaching her goal of a championship season and finally coming home.

Alford-Sullivan articulated that this team's seniors -- so instrumental in this first championship -- will hold a special place in her heart.

"They're not replaceable," she said. "I just hope for the future that the younger athletes continue to be inspired by them and step up to the next level, just like these seniors did."

The future looks bright for the Penn State women's track program, a future Curley is personally looking forward to.

"Part of the plan was not only to get [a Big Ten Championship], but now we want to stay there," he said. "I feel like we're going to be one of the top programs in the Big Ten and nationally year in and year out under [Alford-Sullivan's] leadership."

The Lions now head to the ECAC Championships next weekend and the NCAA Indoor Championships the following weekend.