How much fun can it possibly be to run inside? Running should hardly ever be contained, and for the first time this year, the Penn State men's track and field team will take it outside.

At 10 a.m. tomorrow, the Lions will line up in predicted wet conditions for the 37th Annual Jim Thorpe Invitational, the team's first competition since the IC4A Championships almost a month ago, a meet it won over 75 other teams.

The outdoor track will showcase a collage of teams and individual athletes from large schools and small, local and distant.

To begin the outdoor season, Penn State will have to overcome the loss of seniors who helped key this year's successful indoor campaign, most notably team leader Ernie Terrell.

Fortunately the indoor meets saw emerging freshmen establish themselves as notable contenders. The team hopes an infusion of young talent will help it start strong this spring.

First-year eligible sophomore Chris Morrisey, the Lions' up-and-coming decathlete, is a bright spot and has the ability to start his first outdoor season with a top finish tomorrow.

Perhaps the most-hyped and talented frosh on the team is former high school Pennsylvania State sprinting champion Knowledge Timmons. Timmons, who displayed flashes of his incredible potential indoors, is expected only to only improve when he steps outside. The extra length an outdoor race provides a short sprinter fits his finishing burst.

Sophomore long sprinter Mark Miller, one of the Lions' toughest competitors, has consistently lowered his 800-meter time this year. Despite leaving the fast and banked indoor track for the long, flat outdoor rubber, there is no reason not to expect good times from him and junior Caleb Hood.

First-year high jumper Ryan Fritz was a familiar sight atop the high jump podium, and finished second at the Big Ten Championships. He and elder jumper Tyler Fedeli have teamed up to become one of the conference's toughest high jump tandems. Tomorrow will be the pair's first chance to actually jump for the sky.

Penn State's other top-performing twosome, throwers Scott Vernon and Steve Meyers, will be throwing hammer and discus for the first time this year. Vernon's monster indoor throwing numbers should translate into big-time hammer throw finishes. The Lions could benefit from high finishes in the shot put from Meyers, who will also throw discus.

The Lions' impressive team finishes so far in 2006 have been the product of what Penn State coach Harry Groves had called simply hard work and motivation. He expects the team's first opportunity to compete outside to only stoke that fire.