W. Track takes aim for Heps

As the mileage decreases, and the weight is taken off, the athletes on the Penn women's track team know they're nearing the most important meet of the season. In preparation for next weekend's Heptagonal Championships, the Quakers are tapering down so they can be in peak shape when they compete for the league title. In preparation, Penn travels to Virginia for the George Mason Invitational tomorrow. George Mason will give the Quakers one more chance to see how they compare to elite competition. The meet will be loaded with Division I teams. Similarly to Penn, these schools will also be preparing for their league championships as well. "We'll have our last tuneup at George Mason," Penn assistant coach Tony Tenisci said. "It won't be like the beginning of the year. Now everybody is ready to go on to their conference meets from all over. It should be a high quality meet." Throughout the week, the practice time has been cut in order to give the Quakers fresh legs for Heps. The lifting schedule has been reduced and the distance runs have been cut from seven miles down to five. Also, the Quakers have been sharpening up in general by working on block starts, hurdling and approach work for the jumpers, Tenisci said. However, two Penn standouts haven't practiced this week, and will not compete at George Mason. Senior co-captain Karyn Smith and sophomore Monica McCullough are both nursing minor injuries. McCullough has a variety of nagging injuries, while Smith is still coping with her strained right hamstring. "It's frustrating because it's my last year, and I just don't like missing anything," Smith said. "I'm a little cautious because Heps is so close. It came at the wrong time. It's making me mad, but it's coming along fine. I know it will be OK, it's just makes me a little nervous." Smith and McCullough have been pacing the Quakers so far. Tenisci said this weekend seemed like a sensible time to rest the two, because it would not be wise to jeopardize their seasons by having them compete. This weekend, the Quakers have two specific goals. One is to simply get another practice day in, but also they want to use their last meet to improve seed times for Heps. This is more probable this weekend because George Mason has a very fast track. "They have an excellent facility, it's world renowned," Tenisci said. "Its hard-rubberized surface is great to compete on because it gives tremendous kick back from what you apply to it. It results in very fast times." Although two-thirds of team is comprised of underclassmen, the Quakers feel they can overcome their youth. Both Smith and co-captain Maggie Morrow feel the energy and excitement will help Penn rise above its inexperience. This standpoint is how the freshmen feel as well. "[Heps] is just another track meet," freshman Nuru Hunter said. "I know it's an important meet, but I don't see the point of getting built up with all of that extra pressure, and then the day of Heps feeling overwhelmed by pressure." Now that the season is winding down, the Quakers have to trust they have adequately prepared throughout the season. Penn will try to put Heps in the back of its minds and just concentrate on this weekend's meet. "The fitness is there, the competitive schedule was there," Tenisci said. "It's now all up to them. The groundwork has been laid. It comes down to them to put all of the elements together to get them thinking championship mode."