With the end of classes quickly approaching, most seniors are becoming more relaxed as graduation nears.
However, for Courtney Jaworski, there's no senioritis on the track.
"I'm trying to go for the 800-meter record," he said.
The standing mark was set by Sam Burley in 2002, and Jaworski's best time, 1:45.70, is 1.31 seconds away from it.
Coach Charlie Powell is also looking for Jaworski to go sub-four minutes in the mile.
"He's probably the best 1500[-meter] guy in the league since [Burley] left," Powell said. "He has big shoes to fill but has filled them well."
Jaworski is going to be leading a solid team that has a good mix of young and experienced runners.
For example, the strong 800m relay that finished first in the 2006 Indoor Heptagonal Championships consisted of a senior, a sophomore and two freshmen. Contributing were Jaworski, sophomore Tim Kaijala and freshmen Chris Howell and Bryan Scotland.
"They are really solid through that middle-distance area," Powell said of the team.
As for the sprinters, junior Grafton Ifill will be pacing the team.
"In the short sprints, definitely Grafton Ifill is one of the top kids in the east," Powell said. "He just missed nationals by a couple hundredths of a second, so he's got a great shot there."
He was last year's 100m and 200m winner at the Outdoor Heps. He also holds the Penn outdoor 200m record.
The sprint relays will also be another integral part of the team.
"Our 4x400 and 4x100 are going to be excellent," Powell said.
The 4x400-meter team consists of seniors Pete Cochran and Eric Ljunquist as well as freshmen Sam Shepard and Kevin Benjamin. The team enjoyed recent success at the Indoor Heps.
"They've already made their presence felt very, very much," Powell said of the freshmen.
The jumps and throws may be one of the weaker areas this season, but they are stacked with youth that could have an impact in the coming years.
"Other than Jim Malizia, the senior javelin thrower, all our throwers are very young," Powell said.
Sophomore Kyle Calvo, the winner of the indoor long jump, will return and try to repeat.
In the past, other Penn athletes, especially football and basketball players, have also helped Penn out on the track.
One basketball player, David Whitehurst, will be switching gears and running hurdles.
"It's a tough life playing basketball in college, but I think he'll come back and be one of the better hurdlers on the team," Powell said.
Last year, the team finished second at the Outdoor Heps. This year's event will be held at Franklin field and could give the Quakers an advantage.
"We've been the most successful team in the league over the last 20 years or so," Powell said. "So we're always trying to win the Ivy League."
Season Outlook Fall 2005 results: Third at indoor Heptagonals, no NCAA qualifiers 2005 outdoor Heptagonal result: Tie, 2nd place Last outdoor Heptagonal championship: 2002 Coach: Charlie Powell, 23rd year Next meet: Tomorrow, Raleigh Relays Runner to watch: Senior Courtney Jaworsky, All-American in 2005, five-time First Team All-Ivy League
