The Penn State women's track and field team will continue its push toward the Big Ten championships and the NCAA regional championships by traveling to Alabama for the Auburn Tiger Track Classic all day today and tomorrow.

The meet will provide the team with solid competition and its first look at Big Ten competition this outdoor season. Host Auburn was last year's outdoor national champions and Wisconsin, Purdue, Iowa and indoor conference champion Minnesota will all compete this weekend.

The team is eager to redeem itself after a disappointing end to the indoor season. Adding to that motivation is the fact that Penn State will host the Big Ten Outdoor Championships May 11-13.

"Neither team came off the Big Ten indoor satisfied with the results," Penn State head coach Beth Alford-Sullivan said. "For us, to be in the early phase of the outdoor season and see the Big Ten in that manner is going to be good for us. It's a good Big Ten preview for our team."

In addition to looking forward to Big Tens, the athletes are also focused on continuing to hit NCAA regional qualifying marks after having four athletes and one relay qualify last weekend.

While the team is focused on producing regional qualifiers, their main focus is on winning the head to head competition in each race, rather than just posting qualifying times. The coaching staff has scheduled meets against top competition to raise the team's level and teach them how to win.

"At its essence, what track and field is all about is trying to win the meet," assistant coach Drew Hardyk said. "The tougher that is to do, the higher you have to raise your level to compete and win. So if your idea is to win, then having really good competition matters."

The team also named its captains for the outdoor season this week, with Helen Higgins, Sonja Hinish, Amber Strouse and All-American Shana Cox being selected to lead the team.