W. Track hosts 7 schools at Penn Invite

Just two weeks after the close of the indoor track season, the Penn women's track team will compete in the Penn Invitational, signifying the start of the outdoor season. Because of all the differences between the indoor and outdoor track seasons, Penn coach Betty Costanza is hesitant to give her assessment of the team. "We just don't know what's going to happen yet. The weather, wind and cold affect performances," she said. Although the season has not yet begun, the Quakers are already off to a tough start. Junior co-captain Monica McCullough is suffering from a stress fracture. Junior Jamila Northington, one of Penn's top sprinters, will not compete in the first meet due to a pulled hamstring. Freshman Melanie Cafe is also out with a groin pull. Overcoming these injuries is necessary for Penn to be successful this season. Among the differences in the outdoor season are the additions of the hammer throw, discus, javelin and 400-meter hurdles. This may benefit the Quakers, as Costanza believes the javelin throw will be one of the team's strengths. Additionally, the 55-meter sprint will now be the 100 meters. The 55 meters was a very successful event for Northington and the entire Penn team throughout the indoor season. Penn will get a chance to see how these changes affect the team tomorrow as Temple, Princeton, St. Joe's and four other schools come to Franklin Field for the Penn Invitational. The Quakers, however, are not placing much emphasis on the meet. "The first meet will basically be a training meet for us," Costanza said. "We need to just experiment with our personnel." The significance of the Penn Invitational will be to prepare the Quakers for Heps, which are just five weeks away. Costanza hopes the team performs similarly to the way it did during its "outstanding" indoor season. She also wants the Quakers to "be ready when it counts."