After last week's emotional roller coaster that was the ACC Championships, the Virginia track and field team is looking forward to competing at this weekend's more laid-back Penn Relays.
"Coming off conference you are emotionally spent," Virginia coach Randy Bungard said. "So we always come to Penn Relays with the idea that we are going to have fun. We run some relays that really aren't run that often because this is a chance for the kids to go into a relatively low-pressure situation and perform well simply in the name of fun."
In addition to the women's relays that the Cavaliers run in nearly every meet -- the 4x100 meter and 4x200m -- Virginia will also be fielding runners in the 4x800m, 4x1600m, 4x200m and the sprint medley.
The men's team will not be competing in any sprint relays. Instead, the middle distance men will be running the 4x800m and the 4x1500m relays.
To train for the relay races, the team stuck to its basic sprint workout routine and practiced the baton handoff.
"First we did our primary workout," Bungard said. "Then we worked mainly on the mechanics of the exchange because we pretty much have our steps down. All this year we have been balancing relay work with the work needed for the individual events, so we are prepared."
While relays are undoubtedly the main focus of the meet, several Cavaliers will also be competing in individual events. Sophomore Katie Tershel will be looking to qualify for regionals in the triple jump, as will freshman Alexa Manning in the shot put. On the men's side, all three pole vaulters will be looking to hit regional qualifying marks.
Other individual competitors include freshman Yemi Ayeni in the discus, senior Isi Azeke in long jump, junior Tomika Ferguson in the triple jump and junior Kathryn Pettine in the pole vault.
Junior Erin Crawford is the only woman who will compete in an individual running event -- the 400m hurdles. She is the current school record holder in the event with a time of 57.06 and is always looking to run a new personal best.
Bungard "always tells me to keep plugging away," Crawford said. "That's what I've been doing my past three years here and it has gotten me where I am today."
In addition to providing a respite from intense competition, the Penn Relays will also allow the Cavaliers to scope out the national competition. Louisiana State, Texas, Texas A&M, South Carolina and Arkansas -- all widely considered to be some of the best teams in the country -- will be making the trip to Philadelphia this weekend.
Following the relays, the track and field team will not compete again until the weekend immediately following exams. That weekend, the ECAC/IC4A Championships will be held in Princeton, N.J. The meet will be the final opportunity for members of Virginia's team to qualify for the East Regional Championships held at the end of May.
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