M. Track to host Penn Invitational

Despite the similarity in name, this weekend's Penn Invitational will not even begin to approach the magnitude of the Penn Relays.

The Saturday meet will feature only eight to 10 teams, including local schools Villanova and La Salle, as well as Cornell and Division III teams Haverford and Wheaton College.

In a field full of common opponents, Army will make an atypical trip to Franklin Field.

"Army is always competitive," Penn junior Sam Burley said. "I've never had to face them, but they have a couple good middle distance guys."

In the 800 meters, Burley will face the Cadets' Tony Corona, who finished 19th in last weekend's Florida Relays in a time of 1:55.28.

If Burley has another showing like his 1:49.43 time at the Raleigh Relays last weekend, getting past Corona should not be a problem.

According to Penn coach Charlie Powell, however, a repeat performance by anyone this weekend will be hard to muster.

"We worked really, really hard this week," Powell said. "So there's not a whole lot left in [the Penn runners'] legs."

Fatigue aside, several Quakers are also nursing ongoing injuries.

Penn sophomore javelin thrower Brian Chaput will not participate in the Invitational, nor will fellow sophomore and high jumper Adam Chubb, who will continue to rehabilitate a sore ankle.

Chaput finished second in the javelin last weekend, while Chubb is the school recordholder in the high jump and one of the best in the country.

Senior triple jumper Tuan Wreh may run sprints according to Powell, but he will not jump.

Freshman distance runner Dusty Lieb will also be on ice after straining his quadriceps last weekend at NC State.

Even if the Red and Blue were completely healthy, their focus would still be more on the Princeton-'Nova-Penn State quad meet next weekend.

The quad meet will be the first time for the Quakers to size up their Ivy League rival Princeton, outdoors.

"There's nothing really specific I'm looking to accomplish," Burley said. "It's just another middle of the season meet.

"Some people try to get ready for the quad meet, or some take it as a hard workout."

Powell views the Penn Invitational similarly. It is an opportunity to transition into the outdoor season against different color jerseys -- a condition that cannot be simulated in workouts.

"We just need to compete," Powell said. "It's another competition, another race, another opponent -- you can't really get that in a practice session.

"I'm not looking for any major happenings, but I like surprises."

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