Coaches looking for progress as track & field head to Virginia

It’s time to tighten up the loose ends, Fling weekend or not.

In the thick of a so-far, so-good outdoor season, the Quakers know it’s now time for Penn Relays in two weeks and the Heptagonal Championships the weekend after.

“I think we’re doing quite well,” coach Steve Dolan said. “There’s been progression in their performances which is always something you want to see, and people are getting better from week to week. It’s a very good time of the year for us to be hitting our stride.”

The team will head to Virginia on Saturday to compete in the George Mason Invitational.

“It’s a nice combination of schools, pretty big, and we see a lot of schools we don’t see too often,” Dolan said. “It’s a good meet in terms of competition, and spring weather seems to be coming on each week.”

The one-day meet will have the team back in the wee hours of Sunday morning, presumably opening the possibility for players to participate in Fling festivities.

However, players acknowledge that at this point in the season, their conditioning and training will be integral to their late-season success.

“I’m sure if we get back in time we’ll have fun but at the same time we’re cognizant of the fact that Penn Relays is in two weeks and Heps is in three,” junior sprinter Gabrielle Piper said.

Dolan also admits that at the end of the day, players are responsible for their own performances.

“It’s really not a team score competition, so we’re really not looking for any team title,” he said. “It’s more about individuals continuing to improve in their events and in the end we’ll see which individuals who have progressed the most and can bring their individual contributions to the team-score meets.”

For now, the attention will be on Saturday’s meet. What will happen after the team gets back, however, is still left to be seen.

The first event kicks off Saturday at 1 p.m.

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