Millrose, Tigers next for W. Track

Relay team invited toRelay team invited toprestigious Games In past weekends, the immediate success of its freshmen class has been a surprise lift for the Penn women's track team. With the big impact of the rookies, the upperclassmen have been pushed to the background. But going into the biggest weekend of the season against some of the nation's top talent, the spotlight will shift to the veteran Quakers. "I think we have the quality, and I think we can run with the best of them," Penn coach Betty Costanza said. "I am just not sure if we have the experience." Despite the praise given to the freshmen, it has been the quiet success of the upperclassmen that has set the tone for the season. For two straight meets, Quakers senior Melanie Gesker has taken first place in the 5,000 meters, and junior co-captain Kelley King has placed first in the 200-meter sprint. In addition, junior Adria Ferguson finished third in the 800-meter run last week. The other captain, junior Angie Jimenez has added hurdling to an extensive repertoire that includes the high jump, the long jump and middle-distance running. At West Point, Jimenez took third place in the 55-meter high hurdles, filling in for the injured Daria Smith. The West Point meet also produced some personal bests for the throwers. Junior Erin Soley finished in fifth place with a personal best of 47 feet, four inches in the 20-pound weight event. Finishing near Soley were juniors Christi Strawley and Lauren Askinazi, who also both had personal-best throws. "This season, there is more interest in the throwers because we are getting points for the team," Askinazi said. Today, the Quakers 4x400 relay team will travel to Madison Square Garden in New York to take part in one of the most prestigious track events in the nation -- the Millrose Games. Last year's trip to the Games was spoiled when the Penn team dropped the baton in the 4x400. This year, King will anchor the Quakers, joined by Ferguson and two freshman -- Michele Satine and Sonya Crosswell. Crosswell is filling in for Stephanie Hunt, who will be out today with tendinitis. "Choosing the athletes to run really was based on the Princeton meet," Costanza said. "It came down to who we felt could come back the next day and compete." Following the Games, the Penn will travel to Princeton's Jadwin Gym for the dual meet with the Tigers. Unlike Penn, Princeton prides itself on a strong group of distance runners. Princeton's 17 freshman do not come close to Penn's Fab 30. A key matchup for the Quakers will take place in the 55-meter hurdles. At the Cornell Invitational two weeks ago sophomore Dawn McGee finished second. "I was disappointed with coming in second," McGee said. "But this has been a good week of practicing for me. I think everyone is excited for the Princeton meet." On Saturday, McGee will need to hurdle her way ahead of the No. 2 hurdler in the Ivies -- the Tigers' Nicole Harrison. "Nicole is a very good hurdler, but if I can get off to a good start that will help," McGee said. The stage is set for a real battle on Saturday after Penn ran away with first place in its only scored meet against Cornell and Fordham. Princeton placed first in the Delaware Invitational against Navy and the Blue Hens. "Heading into Millrose, Princeton, Brown and Yale have all run faster times than us," Costanza said. "However they have also run on faster tracks. "When facing Princeton on Saturday, we will need a complete effort from our seniors to our freshman. Everyone will have to compete well, and I hope they do."