The Penn State men's outdoor track team opens its season this weekend at the annual Jim Thorpe Invitational. Sort of.

The meet is an open invitational, and the Nittany Lions will be competing against both collegiate and non-collegiate competition in an event that serves mainly as a chance for the runners to test their legs outside for the first time in the spring.

"This is a developmental meet," said Penn State men's track and field coach Harry Groves. "Mostly, it's just to get everybody in shape."

The field for the event will include athletes from Bucknell, Lehigh St. Francis, and Long Island University, as well as a number of non-collegiate entrants.

The meet is also a chance for Groves and his coaching staff to size up the squad in events that are not part of indoor track and field competitions, such as the intermediate hurdles, the discuss, and the hammer.

The weather forecast calls for fair weather tomorrow morning, with temperatures in the mid-60s, and Groves said that if the weather remains agreeable, he expects some strong performances.

"Some years, you'll see times this weekend that are as good as the ones from the spring meets in the Carolinas," he said. "A lot of teams don't like coming down here in March because you're never sure about the weather.

"But it is supposed to be about 65, and, if the wind isn't blowing, that's a heat wave for central Pennsylvania this time of year."

Groves added that while the event is a good preparatory experience for the team, he will not make any significant decisions for the upcoming outdoor season based on what he sees from his team this weekend.

-- By Justin Kunkel