For most of the members of the Penn State women's indoor track team, today's New Balance Collegiate Invite represents the first meet away from the Nittany Lions' home track. But for freshman sprinters Dominique Blake and Shana Cox, the trip to the New Balance Track and Field Center at The Armory in New York City is just a trip home.

Blake is from The Bronx, N.Y., and had a standout career at Harry S Truman High School.

She captured the city championship in the 200-, 400-, and 800-meter runs during her four years in high school and was also named her team's Most Valuable Player all four years.

Cox hails from Long Island, N.Y., and also excelled on the track during her four years in high school.

She attended Holy Trinity High School, where she was considered to be one of the top high school sprinters in the nation. Cox proved herself last weekend when she set a facility record in the 400-meter dash at the Penn State National Open.

In high school, Cox was a four-time indoor and outdoor New York State champion in the 200- and 400-meter runs. Additionally, Cox was the indoor national champion in the 200-meter run her senior year.

This weekend, the connection between their high school and collegiate careers will come full circle, as they both ran all of their high school meets at The Armory. This time, however, both will be wearing the blue and white of Penn State.

Cox and Blake will have family, friends, high school teammates and even high school coaches in attendance. Some will be seeing Blake and Cox run for Penn State for the first time.

Valerie Blake, Dominique Blake's mother, will be watching her daughter run at the collegiate level for the first time this weekend and is extremely excited to cheer for her daughter.

"I just want to wish her the best of luck," Valerie said. "I know she'll achieve her goal."

With so many familiar faces surrounding them, it might be easy for Cox and Blake to feel some butterflies, but neither seems fazed by the idea. In fact, Cox will use the familiarity with the setting to her advantage.

"The Armory's a big place. There's always a lot of people," Cox said. "I'm kind of used to running in front of a lot of people."

For Blake, the opportunity to run at her home track provides an ample boost of motivation to run well, and she can barely contain her emotions for this weekend.

"I'm so amped and excited," she said. "Like, I can't wait. This is what I, as a freshman, this is what I've been looking forward to coming into NCAA Division I.

"The competition, the excitement," Blake said. "I can't wait to show off what I've got."