The Penn State women's cross-country team will invite about 20 of the top teams from around the country to the Blue-White golf course this weekend for the 36th annual Penn State Invitational.

The talented field will include the No.2 and No.5-ranked schools in the country according to a Finishlynx poll, Providence and Duke.

Penn State is hoping that Providence, the school that took top honors at this event a year ago has no plans of repeating.

The Nittany Lions are coming off a disappointing ninth place finish at the adidas Notre Dame Invitational two weeks ago.

"We weren't firing on all cylinders in the last meet," head coach Beth Alford-Sullivan said.

"But we've done a lot of work and we look ready to go," she said.

Molly Landreth set a Penn State course record with a time of 20:30.25 in last year's event and the team will lean heavily on Landreth once again this year.

Senior Chelsea Lenge, a late-bloomer who has scored in every race this season, accomplished a personal best at this event a year ago when she finished with a time of 21:20:26.

Tracey Brauksieck didn't compete in last year's event due to an illness but the junior is looking forward to returning strong.

"Trust me, she'll be ready," Alford-Sullivan said.

A year ago the Lions finished third in this event, which was the team's goal coming in.

Having already won its first home invitational at Spike Shoe in September, the team would love to hold serve on its home course this time around.