All work and no play makes a Nittany Lion a dull animal.

The Penn State women's track and field team is enjoying this new team philosophy, as it is breaking records left and right so far this season, and though an offseason of intense workouts has surely helped, some athletes don't think it's the only explanation.

The reason Penn State is annihilating both opposition and the record books is the newly found balance of training and enjoyment that keeps the team loose while still keeping its eyes on the prize.

"Last year, we were too serious all the time and people were getting tense and weren't performing," Hunter said. "Now, you do what you're supposed to do, but then have fun."

Another dominating performance from Penn State meant that Penn State women's track and field coach Beth Alford-Sullivan and the rest of her coaching staff had to run an impromptu relay immediately following the meet on Saturday.

"I ended [Friday's] team meeting saying if anyone broke a school record, the coaches would run a relay," a short-of-breath Alford-Sullivan said. "And any chance they get to give us trouble, they take it."

The Lions wasted no time making sure Alford-Sullivan was going to follow through on her wager. Do-it-all sophomore Gayle Hunter broke the school record in the 55-meter hurdles, and fellow sophomore sprinter Shana Cox demolished the Penn State mark by over two seconds in her first-ever 500-meter dash.

And make no mistake, the Lions are having a blast, whether their shenanigans consist of torturing their coaches or simply hanging out and enjoying each other's company.

"[Friday] night, we spent hours and hours together, and the TV wasn't even on," Cox said. "We just like being around one another."

Hunter credits the team's growing relationship with sprints coach Chris Johnson as one of the major contributors to this season's free atmosphere.

"Last year, we were trying to adjust to [Coach Johnson], and everyone didn't know how he was gonna react," Hunter said.

The Lions expect their confidence and spirit to assist them on Friday and Saturday, when Penn State hosts the Penn State National Open at the Multi-Sport Facility. Defending indoor national champion Tennessee along with third-place Miami (FL) are coming in, and rather than tightening up, Alford-Sullivan is excited with the idea of her team facing some top-notch talent.

"Competition will always draw a bit more out of you," Alford-Sullivan said. "I think we've got some national-caliber performers. It will be really exciting to see how they handle themselves."

The Lions know they want to approach the rest of the season much like they started it off: enjoying themselves and making history.

"It would be a shame if you were in an environment like this and couldn't have fun," Cox said.

In that case, Alford-Sullivan better get her running shoes ready.

"I don't think I'll do that again," Alford-Sullivan said laughing.

Although she'd be happy for the opportunity.