The start of the Penn State women's outdoor track and field season can be summed up very simply: different location, different conditions and a different look.

Penn State competed without All-Americans thrower Jennifer Leatherman and sprinter Shana Cox, and high-speed winds and cold temperatures affected times Saturday at the Jim Thorpe Invitational, held at Nittany Lion Track.

Some athletes may have been longing for the warm and controlled atmosphere of the Multi-Sport Facility, but Penn State women's track and field coach Beth Alford-Sullivan said these situations need to be expected during the outdoor season.

"These are the conditions you get," Alford-Sullivan said. "You prepare to compete and execute. You can't expect big results, but you can expect the plan to come together. This is what we have to do early in the season."

Alford-Sullivan said that the wind -- with gusts exceeding 30 miles per hour -- increased times in shorter distance running dramatically. Despite the weather, junior Kim Markel put together a solid day in the hurdles.

Markel finished first in the 400-meter hurdles with a time of 1:01.28, placed third in the 100-meter hurdles behind junior teammates Amber Strouse and Monique Walker.

The throwers -- sans Leatherman, whom Alford-Sullivan said was resting up for heavier competition next weekend -- also stepped up a notch, perhaps taking advantage of the wind that was a hindrance to the runners. Senior Diana Bruch and sophomore Heidi Nadeau set NCAA regional qualifying marks in the javelin, and freshman Emma Schmelzer took first in the discus with a toss of 152-02 feet.

Junior Helen Higgins' throw of 168-07 feet was good for second in the hammer throw.

"Those are events that can do well in these conditions," Alford-Sullivan said. "We were solid across the board."

Junior Lena Bettis put together a strong performance in the long jump and triple jump, events her presence will be needed in because of sophomore Gayle Hunter's injury redshirt. Bettis finished first in both events, and helped Penn State win the 4x400-meter relay along with Markel, sophomore Dominique Blake and junior Briene Simmons.

While their teammates were battling Mother Nature in State College, sprinters Cox, Sara Shoaff, Kamilah Salaam and Aleesha Barber were out west competing in the Stanford Invitational. Salaam finished third in the 100-meter hurdles, while Barber placed fourth and also took seventh in the 400-meter hurdles. Shoaff finished ninth in the 100-meter dash.

"Kamilah and Aleesha made it back to the 100-meter hurdles final, and Sara made it to the 100-meter dash final," Alford-Sullivan said.

"I'm happy to see that early in the season."