Track teams head to Regionals

Last time the men's cross country team visited Lock Haven, Pa., it placed five runners in the top 10 and earned first overall.

The Quakers will be looking for similar success when they return there tomorrow - only this time, the stakes will be much higher.

Both of Penn's cross country teams will run in the NCAA Regionals this weekend. The race determines who advances to the NCAA Championships in Indiana.

Captain Brian Goldberg is confident that Penn will send some representatives to the Hoosier State.

"I think some of the guys on our team are just starting to get a taste of what they can really do," he said.

Goldberg added that the fact that this course is 1.2 miles longer than most helps the Quakers.

Only the top two teams in each region receive automatic bids, but a third-place finish could land the Quakers an at-large bid.

In four of the past five years, Penn has been in the top five.

Coach Charlie Powell hedged his bets, saying he has "no idea" where his team will finish - but he does like what he has seen lately.

"They're running at a very, very high level," Powell said. "They have been doing some wonderful things."

The men are led by Goldberg, who had his breakout at last year's regionals, and his co-captain, senior Ian Foley.

Tomorrow will mark the end of Foley's Penn cross-country career, unless he does advance.

"You want to say you're going to run every race like it's your last," Foley said, "but when it potentially is your last, you realize the stakes are a little higher."

The Quakers need strong performances from their two leaders, but they are also hoping for key contributions from other runners.

"I think Reed McKewan is ready for a break-out performance, and it would be great to see," Powell said.

Both captains also said that Larry Contrella and Michael LaQuaglia could have a big day.

The women have also been training very hard. All season long, their top runners have been Stacy Kim - who finished sixth at Heptagonals - and her twin sister, Claire.

Coach Gwen Harris would not make any predictions about this weekend.

"We don't need to make that judgment," she said. "If we do what the race plan says to do, we'll be fine; we'll do a good job."

She would not divulge the plan, however, saying that she will not even reveal it to her team until tonight.

Nevertheless, she is confident, and she expects several of her girls to finish in the top 25.

As for the opportunity to reach nationals, she merely responded with a question.

"Who wouldn't be looking for the possibility of an NCAA bid, am I correct?"

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