W. Track sends six to ECACs

After last weekend's ninth-place finish at the Heptagonal Championships, the Penn women's track team cannot wait to kiss the indoor season goodbye before heading into its spring campaign.

But, first, the Quakers have a statement to make at the ECACs this weekend.

Rather than dwelling on last weekend's disappointment, Penn's six qualifiers -- two vaulters and a 4x800-meter relay team -- will be looking to establish themselves amidst a tough field at the Reggie Lewis Center this weekend.

This will not be easy given the high level of competition and the emotional drain that accompanied last weekend's lackluster performance.

"We've got to pick our heads up and hope get ready for this weekend," Penn coach Tony Tenisci said. "There is a big emotional letdown after Heps."

Joining Penn's pair of vaulters -- sophomore Caroline Rebello and freshman Samantha Crooke -- will be freshmen Ana-Marie Allander and Claire Duncan, sophomore Emily Logan and senior Jessica Lloyd, the members of Penn's 4x800 team.

Of the six, Rebello is the only Penn athlete who has experience in the ECACs.

The Huntington Beach, Calif., native, who was named Penn's Most Valuable Freshman last season, competed in both the Indoor and Outdoor ECACs in her first year.

Rebello "has been there before," Tenisci said. "She is ready and one of the rising vaulters in the East."

A particular point of pride for the Quakers is that they were able to get two vaulters into this year's field.

This season, the ECACs set a higher qualifying standard than in the past. In order to be eligible for the championships, athletes had to vault over 11 and three-fourths feet.

"It used to be 10-feet, then it became 10-feet-6 [inches]," Tenisci said. "And now to have two vaulters qualify is just great with the new standard is just great."

Also shattering a new standard was the 4x800 relay team. At Heptagonal Championships, the relay team set a personal record, 9:24-- its best by over six seconds.

"The team shaved a lot of time of its best at Heps," Tenisci said. "If they can set another personal record, that would be reason alone for coming to the meet."

Being a non-scholarship team, Penn knows better than to shoot too high against some of the nation's top programs.

"There are teams like Georgetown and Villanova that buy their athletes," Tenisci said. "They just fly around the track.

"We're an academic institution."

While Penn may not have its eyes realistically squared on the top prize, it does hope to make national headwaves after this meet.

With a contingent of predominantly underclassmen representing the Quakers at the ECACs, they have the opportunity to do so.

"This is our national championships," Tenisci said.

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