W. Track handles New Haven weather

The women's track team qualified two more athletes for the ECACs with a strong showing at the Yale Invitational. A four-week layoff couldn't keep the Penn women's track team from making a bold statement at the Yale Invitational Saturday. Neither could a nine-hour bus ride or harsh weather conditions, which were so bad that the team even felt the effects inside Yale's 1,200-seat Coxe Cage. The Quakers recorded three first-place, two second-place and five third- and fourth-place finishes in the 13 events they entered in the 15-team field. In addition, two Quakers qualified for the ECACs. With a time of 8.25 seconds in the semifinals of the women's 55-meter low hurdles, junior Christyna Faulkner claimed the honor, while fellow hurdler Ja Juan Gair barely missed qualifying for Easterns by just 1/100th of a second. Senior shotputter Luana Bothelo also got a birth in the ECACs with a second-place finish and a throw of 13.93 meters in the shot put. "I think we did a good job," Faulkner said. "It's so hard competing after being on a bus for nine hours? but we're looking good for the team championships [in the Ivy League]. I think Yale showed that we are strong and that more and more people are doing better." Finishing with 13 top-four finishes, Penn coach Betty Costanza couldn't have been happier with the team's results. "In every event we entered we finished in the top three or four," Costanza said. "Overall, it was a very good meet for us with the severe coldness and three weeks off." Costanza was especially proud of the hurdles, jumps and the two relay teams. Penn claimed both a third and fourth place spot in the triple jump with Ruthie Neuhaus and Aqiyla Muhammed recording jumps of 11.48 and 11.46 meters, respectively. The Quakers entered two teams in the 4x400 meter relay and came away with third- and fifth-place finishes, while Penn's 4x800 meter relay team finished third overall, behind Seton Hall and Rutgers, respectively. Senior captain Rita Garber continued her success in the distance ranks, winning the 3,000-meter run with an impressive time of 10:25.71. Teammate Meredith Rossner placed fifth. Garber, who competed at the cross country nationals in the fall, believes Penn left a very good mark at the Invitational. "As a team, it was a good starting off point," said Garber, who believes that she could have achieved a faster time despite her emergence as one of the top runners in the east. "It's indicative of our potential as a team, and it shows that we should have a great season." Sophomore Ami Desai and freshman Liz Wittels continued to dominate the pole vault. Wittels, who also claimed the event at the Brown Invitational, won the pole vault with a mark of 10'6.25". Desai, who broke her old Penn record with a new school record of 10'11.75" at George Mason University, finished second with a vault of 10'0.25". Jessica Mitchell also continued her winning ways in the 800-meter run, winning the event with a time of 2:15.94. The senior has proven to be one of Costanza's best-ever middle distance runners and should continue to win all season long. Jeraldine Cofie finished an impressive fourth in the middle distance event. In the one-mile run, Suzie Cook and Samantha Desposito placed third and fourth, respectively, while Vicki Moore, Serena Poole and Richelle Clements finished fourth, sixth and eighth, respectively in the 400-meter dash. With a successful day in spite of the frigid temperatures and extended layoff, Costanza feels her team has set the tone for a successful season. The team next heads to the Delaware Invitational January 16 in hopes of dominating the field and claiming victory.