M. Track: Quakers march to Army Invitational to prep for champs

All Penn eyes will be fixed on senior Brian Abram when he takes the track in the 400 meter hurdles tomorrow at the Army Invitational.

Abram hopes to reach the regional qualifying time of 52.70 -- a goal that he has been doggedly pursuing since the spring season began.

And the senior is not too far away from seeing his dream materialize. At the Penn Invitational two weeks ago, he ran 52.90.

"I'd like to qualify for it and maybe get it out of the way," Abram said. "If I can get good steps in between the hurdles, I could see myself doing it."

But Abram knows that making the qualifying time is only the first step. To finish his Penn career at nationals -- in what could be a storybook ending --he will have to run significantly faster at the regional meet.

"My qualifying time will not get to nationals," the senior said. "I can't sit back and relax. With six more weeks, I'm pretty confident I can get a lot of it put together."

The Army Invitational will not be such an important meet for all of the Quakers. Many athletes will use it as a final opportunity to prepare for the crucial championship phase of the season -- beginning next Thursday at Penn Relays.

"This is a tune-up meet," junior Matt Wedge said.

In addition to host-Army, Penn will take on Ivy League foe Columbia and Manhattan College.

"We have everything to gain and nothing to lose," Wedge said. "If you go in there and fall on your face, it's not that big of a deal."

Several athletes -- including senior Sam Burley and junior Chris Edmonds -- will not make the trip because of the holidays.

Still, those who are making the trip view tomorrow as a chance to get a final surge of confidence before the high-stakes meets begin.

"Some of the guys can use this as a good stepping stone for next week," Abram said. "Hopefully, they'll take advantage of it."

Despite losing to Princeton last weekend, Penn is "in absolutely perfect shape" as it enters the final stretch, Wedge said.

As the underdog at the Heptagonal Championships on paper, Penn is not in unfamiliar territory.

But the Quakers place little value in what is supposed to happen, as indicated by its last two championships -- both upsets.

"Every year on paper, Penn is never supposed to win," Wedge said.

"We always consider ourselves the favorite. The Penn team always comes to compete. We step up, and other teams cave in."

The Quakers will begin to "taper down" after the Army meet. The result, they hope, will be a significant improvement in their times.

Another episode of Abram's quest for nationals will unfold tomorrow. And with Penn Relays next on the table, Abram's Quakers can little afford to dally.

"Next week will be a lighter week," Wedge said. "This is our last opportunity to put in a lot of work before championships."

Please note All comments are eligible for publication in The Daily Pennsylvanian.