This past weekend, the Nittany Lions did not win back-to-back Big Ten indoor track titles, partially because of circumstances beyond their own control. There was an injury to a key point scorer, freshman Gayle Hunter, and disqualifications of both of Penn State's 400-meter runners for lane violations.

It was kind of ironic, though, that on the greatest day of frustration for the Penn State women's indoor track team, the proverbial Queen of Frustration, junior thrower Jennifer Leatherman, had her greatest performance of the season.

"Jen is notorious for frustration," Penn State coach Beth Alford-Sullivan said. "Also notorious for success."

At the Big Ten Championships this past weekend, Leatherman won both the shot put and 20-pound weight throw events. In the weight throw, Leatherman set a new Big Ten Championships meet record with a throw of 69 feet 11.5 inches. This would have never happened if Leatherman hadn't overcome past tantrums of disappointment.

After the Sykes-Sabock Challenge Cup meet at Penn State more than three weeks ago when the Lions defeated Michigan, Leatherman was, as usual after a competition, upset. Coming up second in both events to Pittsburgh's Amanda Walker, Leatherman had lost all confidence in the weight throw.

"I'm not happy about the weight [throw]," Leatherman said. "I really don't care about it anymore."

Leatherman continued to speak about how she was only interested in the shot put, and was worried about her weight throw results and being forced to compete in the weight throw for Big Tens. Before the Big Ten Championships, Alford-Sullivan dismissed the idea that Leatherman might not throw in the championship meet.

"I think she sometimes gets ahead of herself in commentary on things," Alford-Sullivan said. "That's a great example of an athlete that is frustrated by getting beat, honestly."

Things were different this past weekend. Coming into the final round of the weight throw in Big Tens, Ohio State senior Shelaine Larson was ahead of Leatherman with a throw of 64-7 feet. This was much like when Leatherman was always down to Walker in both the Penn State National and Sykes-Sabock meets.

Instead of falling to top her rival, Leatherman pulled out a positive result this time. She came out in the championship round and showed some composure, throwing almost a distance of 70 feet. This was by far a personal best for Leatherman, which could have been attained from past defeats to her nemesis, Walker.

"They go against people who maybe throw farther than them and they just have to stay in their own game," Penn State throws coach Dayna Holston said before the Big Ten Championships. "Just walk in the circle, perform and you'll have good results."

Though Leatherman was not instrumental in a win, the strong performance still brings confidence to an athlete who had previously despised the event in which she now holds a record.

Hopefully it will also help alleviate a problem Alford-Sullivan was having prior to the meet when she said, "[Leatherman's] causing me to grow gray hair."