If this weekend's IC4A and ECAC Championships are just "icing on the cake" - as coach Charlie Powell of the men's track team put it - then a trip to Arkansas for the NCAA Championships would be the post-dessert brandy and cigar.
Both the men and women's track and field teams will be headed up to Boston to begin their spr ing breaks, and several Quakers are hoping that Beantown won't be the extent of their travels.
As strong performers from the men's team are looking to improve their times at the IC4As hosted at Boston University, the women will be planning to do the same in the ECAC Championships at the Reggie Lewis Track and Athletic Center.
"Not everyone who qualified will be going, mostly because we have a lot of guys who are trying to heal up," said Powell, explaining why he will be bringing only about 10 or 12 athletes to the event.
The relatively small numbers should be no indication of the importance of the meet, however, as several runners hope to achieve qualifying times for next weekend's NCAA Championships at the Arkansas.
Women's head coach Gwen Harris will be bringing her entire team, including Ivy League Champion and senior Shani Boston, who has had outstanding performances in her pentathalons, as well as juniors Stacy Kim and Shaunee Morgan, both of whom came in first in their events at Heptagonals.
"I've been coming to this meet for quite some time, and it never disappoints me," Harris remarked. "The girls are going to have a great time."
Junior Tim Kaijala, who took first in last weekend's 1,000-meter run at Heps and has performed consistently throughout the winter, has a strong chance of representing Penn at the NCAA Championships. If he runs well this weekend in the 800m, his plane ticket down south will be everything but guaranteed.
By no means, however, does either coach overlook the field in Boston.
"When you have 113 schools that are part of the IC4A, even if everyone doesn't show up, there's still going to be enough where you have great competition," Powell emphasized. "It's one of the fastest tracks in the country, no question about it."
Though several key players remain injured, including senior Tina Morrison and junior Claire Kim, Penn will be bringing strong 4x800m relay teams to both the men and women's events. Sophomore Bryan Scotland will also be looking for a national qualifying time in the 800m.
If these athletes are looking for a spring break in warmer climates, they know now more than ever that all roads lead through Boston.
