Three women compete in infal indoor meet

Three brave members of the Penn women's track team made the trek to Dartmouth this weekend to compete in the Eastern College Athletic Championships, where they went head-to-head with the most talented athletes on the East Coast. Less than a week after Heptagonals, finding the strength and endurance to compete at their usual level on Saturday could have been a problem for the Quakers. But Penn senior co-captain Angie Jimenez, senior Erin Soley and junior Satsuki Mitchell were well prepared for the challenge. "It is tough to return one week later and do another pentathlon, but I am resting and I'll be ready to go," Jimenez said prior to the meet. In the last indoor meet of her career, Jimenez was Penn's star of the day. Jimenez took third in the pentathlon, which is her best finish ever at ECACs. For the past three years, Jimenez placed fourth in the event. The fact that Jimenez was competing amongst the likes of Trecia Smith, who has the potential to be the national outdoor pentathlon champion in the spring season, could have been discouraging, but she went into her event feeling confident that she could put up a strong fight. "It can be a little intimidating, which is one of the best reasons to go," Jimenez said. "You can prove to yourself and to your competition that you belong there and you have worked just as hard as they have. If you make it there, you have just as much of a right to step on that track as anyone else." Her positive attitude was undoubtedly a major factor leading to recordings of near-personal records in all five parts of the pentathlon. "It was an outstanding accomplishment for Angie," said Quakers assistant coach Tony Tenisci. "It was probably her best performance in Eastern championships since she has been going as a freshman. She worked through all five events very well. She kept her concentration sharp and held a very high standard." Having to adapt to an unusually high starting height of 5 feet, 3/4 inches, Mitchell was unable to advance past the first round of jumps in the high jump event. The opening height was very close to the qualifying height for ECACs, making it extremely difficult for many of the athletes to clear the bar. Penn placed 31st overall out of a field of 43, but the goal of the Quakers at ECACs is never team-oriented. The individuals who qualify have the option of going to compete. After participating in the high-pressured Heps meet, many of Penn's athletes choose not to go, while others look forward to their final opportunity of the season to record a personal best performance in a highly competitive environment.