It's a good bet that on any given weekend, many Penn State sports teams can boast of accomplishments. Not many, however, can claim their success occurred in two separate time zones at the same time.

The Penn State women's track and field team turned in strong performances as some distance runners flew west, while the rest of the team migrated south. Top times at the famed Mt. Sac Relays in Walnut, Calif., in addition to the Sea Ray Relays in Knoxville, Tenn., shows the Nittany Lions are living up to their preseason assessment that the team is better prepared and more fired up for the outdoor season. Kamilah Salaam qualified in the 100-meter hurdles with a mark of 13.83 seconds.

"I don't think I've ever run this fast this early in the season," she said.

Also qualifying in the hurdles -- the 400-meter variety -- was junior Kim Markel. Markel has qualified in the event multiple times this season and continues a strong push she's been riding since early this spring.

"That's the main thing that you need to do, to qualify for regionals," Markel said. "I'm trying to make a name for myself out there."

"Kim Markel has definitely stepped up. Her attitude is amazing. 400-meter hurdles is her event, and she's shown it," Penn State sprints, jumps and hurdles coach Chris Johnson said.

Senior Sara Shoaff qualified in the 200-meter dash and also in the 100-meter dash, a first for her. She may have been pushed by the sight of former Lion star Connie Moore in front of her. Moore was running for Nike at the event.

"I'm so proud of her," Salaam said of Shoaff. "Everyone's happy and satisfied."

Penn State's throwers continue to show why their presence makes the outdoor team such an intimidating force. Sophomore Heidi Nadeau blew away the field in the javelin with a hurl of 159-1 feet, easily setting a qualifying mark. Senior Diana Bruch finished fifth in the event. In the hammer throw, All-America senior Jennifer Leatherman finished behind only one other collegiate athlete in the invitational heat -- Southern Illinois' Brittany Riley -- with a toss of 196-08 feet.

The 48th Annual Mt. Sac Relays always promotes strong competition, so sophomore Briene Simmons' performance is more than encouraging. Simmons finished an impressive first in the 800-meter with a time of 2:08.65. Also running in California were sophomore Dominique Blake in the 800-meter and senior Molly Landreth in the 10,000-meter.

Collegian staff writer Virginia Harrison contributed to this story.