From Walt Murphy\'s News Service
When the NCAA went to Regional qualifying for its Div.I Championships last year, the directors of the major spring relay carnivals expressed concern over the effect that the ensuing schedule changes would have on their meets.
The first major ripple from that decision was felt on Wednesday when Texas coach Bev Kearney told Penn Relays Director Dave Johnson that her women\'s team, which includes Sanya Richards and that great 4x400 team that smashed the collegiate record last week, would not be coming to Penn this year. Long a mainstay at Penn, Texas beat LSU in a great 4x400 at last year\'s meet, and also won that event five years in a row from 1995-1999.
Since the Big-12 Championships are being held this year a week after Penn(there was a 3-week gap last year), school officials didn\'t want the athletes to miss so many days of school in such a short period of time. The Texas men\'s team will have a limited presence at this year\'s Relays and Texas A&M, another Big-12 regular at Penn, is also passing up this year\'s meet.