Alford-Sullivan said the outdoor season plays to the Lions' strengths better than the indoor season. Two throwing events -- the javelin and discus -- are added, an area in which Penn State is generally strong.
"We're strong in the throws, always have been, and always will be," Alford-Sullivan said. "Adding two events is good for us."
Senior All-American Jennifer Leatherman -- recently named the Indoor Field Athlete of the Year for the Mid-Atlantic Region -- will replace the 20-pound weight throw with the hammer throw, an event Alford-Sullivan brags Leatherman is stronger in. Leatherman, the defending Big Ten Champion in the event, will not be competing this weekend and instead will open up at home next weekend.
The 400-meter hurdles is another good event for the Lions. Junior Kim Markel finished fourth in the Big Ten each of the last two seasons. Freshman Aleesha Barber, who dazzled with her times in the 60-meter hurdles during the indoor season, calls it her strongest event. Penn State is also the two-time defending conference champion in the 4x100-meter relay.
Not everything is wine and roses for the Lions, however.
Sophomore superstar Gayle Hunter has been nursing a knee injury since early in the indoor season. Hunter and her coaches have opted to take a medical redshirt this season, and her presence will be missed across the board.
Junior Lena Bettis took long strides towards the end of the indoor season and should be ready to step up in the jumps, Hunter's major strength. Despite the redshirt, Hunter remains connected to the team and offers her moral support.
"Gayle's here," sophomore All-American Shana Cox said. "She's funny and she's motivating, and she's always there if you need her."
Cox may not need any extra motivation from Hunter to perform well this season. Iowa sophomore Kineke Alexander exploded at the end of the season and won both the Big Ten and national championship in the 400-meter dash, Cox's strongest event. Cox got the better of Alexander at last year's outdoor championships and is looking for more of the same this season.
"It's very exciting. You want people to say the Big Ten is a strong conference," Cox said. "Having people who are around the same caliber as you pushes you."
Alford-Sullivan was more blunt.
"It's going to light [Shana's] fire for the outdoor season," she said.
Cox, like Leatherman, will be staying back this week for an extra week of rest, but will be ready to start her climb to the top next weekend.
Much like the indoor season, the Lions believe a Big Ten Championship is a reasonable goal. They also believe the pieces to that puzzle may fit together better in the outdoor season.
"It plays into our strengths with the additional events," Alford-Sullivan said. "We're shooting for the title."
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