Wl Track makes first trip to Terrier meet

At a University with one of the more famous business schools in the country, it is rather fitting that the Penn women's track team will be running on a "banked" track in Boston this weekend. As the Quakers enter the home stretch of their indoor season, they travel to Boston University to compete in the Terrier Classic for the first time in team history. "It's a big deal," Penn assistant coach Tony Tenisci said. "Especially with only two more meets until conference. "The banked track provides an opportunity for us to get some high quality seed times and performances," he added. A banked track is one which is sloped inward. This enables the athletes to come around the corners much faster than on a normal track. When asked if the Quakers, who practice and compete almost exclusively on conventional tracks, would have problems adjusting, Tenisci seemed unconcerned. "The runners just need to warm up well, and need to be shown how to come into and out of the corners, which shouldn't be much of a problem," the Penn assistant said. The Quakers will also be seeing archrival Princeton for the first time this year. "It's great because we get a chance to preview them before the duals at Princeton, which we haven't had in the past," Tenisci said. However, getting a look at Princeton's team is secondary to success on Sunday. "This meet is about quality performances," said Tenisci. "This is not a find-your-legs, see how we're doing meet, we've got to start putting the hammer down." This is exactly what senior middle distance runner Jessica Mitchell plans on doing in the 800 this weekend. "I've been pretty good, but not as fast as last year at this time, I want to be running a 2:10 or 2:12," said Mitchell, who won the 800 at last week's Cornell Invite with 2:15. When asked about the stiff competition the team would be facing at this large Invitational meet, Mitchell was confident. "This is going to be the toughest competition we've seen in a long time." Mitchell said. "I'm in the championship heat, so I'm both excited and nervous. I need the competition for faster times, going into Heps." Coach Tenisci also emphasized the importance of thinking about Heps. "The next two weeks will go a long way toward determining who gets the honor of being chosen to be on the conference team." Tenisci said. "That's why it's so important for everyone to turn in quality performances." Senior shot putter Luana Botelho shared the coach's sense of urgency. "I definitely want to improve," said Botelho. "I've been happy with the way it's going, but it's time to pop my big throw. I'm hoping that, with the higher competition pushing me, I can meet that challenge." Sophomore Bassey Adjah is also looking forward to the competition. "It's pretty big, we can't go in there thinking it's just another meet. I'd like to make a mark among all the very competitive teams that will be there," said Adjah, who won the pentathlon and long jump at Cornell last week. "I'm at the point I want to be. My long jump has definitely improved from last year. I think I have the potential to place at Heps. I just want to go there [Boston] and show everyone that there's good competition at Penn."