Early in the 2006 season, the Penn State women's track and field team has already made a mark on its own portion of the sport's history, and it expects this weekend to be no different.

The Sykes-Sabock Challenge Cup begins at noon today and 11 a.m. tomorrow at the Multi-Sport Facility, as Penn State takes on a 15-team field in its final meet before the Big Ten Championships.

The meet is named after two long-time Penn State track and field officials, "Dutch" Sykes and Dr. Ralph Sabock. Running to win the historical cup, the ladies in blue will look to make some history of their own. They have won the meet the past couple of years, and they are looking to continue their winning streak.

Individually, the Lions have already rewritten history in the record books. In every meet so far this year, at least one athlete has set a new school or facility record. The team would love to continue this streak heading into Big Tens in two weeks.

"It's going to be a really good meet," head coach Beth Alford-Sullivan said. "The competition's looking very strong, and we're looking forward to a scored meet as well. It's a good prep going into Big Tens."

Even though the team has not yet achieved the all-around solid performance it has been looking for, Sullivan is not too concerned.

"Basically we haven't put a lot of pressure on the kids this week," she said. "We're just kind of getting recovered, getting regrouped, and looking forward to just competing."

The field this weekend will feature some challenging competition. Georgetown, who was in State College earlier in the season, will return boasting an accomplished distance program to challenge Penn State's Molly Landreth.

Sophomore sprinter Shana Cox will take a break from the 400-meter dash, an event she has dominated so far this season. She will run the 200-meter instead for the first time this year.

Senior standout Jennifer Leatherman will look to improve upon her shot put throws, also taking a break from her most dominating event, the 20-pound weight throw.

In the hurdles, Mid-American Conference athlete of the week senior Tamara Thomas will travel with Central Michigan to compete in the 60-meter hurdles. Cornell, Pittsburgh, Virginia Tech and Eastern Michigan are also some nationally competitive teams challenging the Lions this weekend.

The Lions will again be without multi-tasking sprinter, jumper and hurdler Gayle Hunter. Hunter hurt her knee jumping in the Penn State National Invitational on Jan. 28.

Missing her second week in a row, Hunter is still experiencing tenderness in her knee, and, as a "safety precaution," she will not be competing again this weekend.

After failing to have a breakout weekend last week, this upcoming meet will provide one last opportunity for the Lions to fine-tune their performances before competing for real in the Big Tens.

"We could begin better, we could be better," Cox said after last week's meet. "Then again you could always be better. There's always room for improvement, and we're working on that."

Hopefully, in the process, they'll be able to write some more history of their own.