SEASON PREVIEW: W. Track expects to excel outside

When it rains you break out the umbrella, and when the snow starts you slip on the moon boots and the gloves. If it's really muddy you grab the old sneaks, and when the wind picks up you dip your head and walk behind someone in front of you. But all of these ways of adapting to the Northeast's weather conditions are ones the women's track team can't possibly make. They've struggled with bad weather conditions in attempts to practice for the indoor season and are hoping it won't hamper them in the upcoming outdoor season. The Quakers have the talent to excel this spring. "We were third in the conference in the indoors, and we should be much more competitive," Penn assistant coach Tony Tenisci said. "If the weather is good, we'll be ready to go." And the hope that bad conditions don't put a damper on the season is mutual with the runners, especially for tomorrow's Quaker Invitational 1 p.m. at Franklin Field. "It's important because now that we're outside, the cold and rain sets in on you, especially for the throwers," senior co-captain Karyn Smith said. "I hope it doesn't rain." But weather is not the sole factor in a win or loss for the Quakers this weekend, or for the season as a whole. Penn's confidence is up after witnessing Smith's selection to the all-America team as she posted a 40 foot, 10 inches-long jump at NCAAs, putting her 12th overall and seventh in the non-foreign standings. Freshman Angie Jimenez also excelled in the postseason with a third-place showing in the multi-events at the Eastern championships at Yale. Penn not only boasts strong individual performers, but team ability, as the Quakers finished third at Heptagonals. "We did very well, and even while missing some valuable people," Smith said. "We were missing nearly 50 points at that meet." But the upcoming outdoor program is much more involved and considerably more competitive. The Quakers are coming back from recent tapering, and with the season opener tomorrow, need a spirited effort to contend. The Penn roster is loaded with both experience -- Karyn Smith in the long and triple jump -- and newfound talent, as in freshman Daria Smith, who will compete in the sprint-hurdles. Sophomore Monica McCullough will also long jump, and junior Nicole Maloy will attempt to defend and possibly better her 5-9 high jump record. Junior Jenee Anzelone runs in the half-mile and sophomore Jamila Northington is back from an injury in the sprinting events. "We're looking for quality performances in each meet. It's a quick season," Tenisci said. So if the team is lucky enough for the storms and injuries to subside, it'll get a chance to show what it has. There are no set goals and no definite expectations -- only to continue the Quakers' improvement, which as of yet, has been quite steady. And Penn will see its first test of the new season tomorrow.