KEVIN JENISON
GoSycamores.com
TERRE HAUTE, IND. ?The Indiana State Sycamores continue their preparation for the 2010 State Farm Missouri Valley Conference Indoor Track & Field Championships as they compete at two meets over the weekend.
Some of the Sycamores will compete at the Meyo Track & Field Invitational, hosted by the University of Notre Dame, on Friday and Saturday. The two-day event will be held at the Loftus Center on the Notre Dame campus and is usually one of the top indoor meets in the nation.
No team scores are kept at the Meyo Track & Field as the Sycamore athletes work to improve their performances in their respective events. Action will begin at 5 p.m. Friday with Saturday's competition beginning at 9 a.m.
Most of the team members will be in competition at the Tiger Indoor Invitational Meet hosted by DePauw University in Greencastle, Ind. Competition begins at 11 a.m. in the DePauw indoor facility.
“This week is all about performance and getting ready to perform,” John McNichols, Indiana State men's track & field coach, said. “The Meyo Invitational is one of the most prestigious indoor meets of the season and always attracts some of the top athletes from across the nation. It is a great opportunity for those who will be competing there to run fast on the track and compete at a high level in the field events.”
Indiana State sophomore Jeremiah Vaughan and sophomore Dustin Betz will be competing in the mile at the Meyo Invitational while junior Michael Disher and sophomore Craig Padgett will run in their first 5,000 meter race of the indoor season. Others expected to do well at Notre Dame include junior Michael Roberts in the hurdles, junior Andrew Lepkowski in the 3,000 meters, and junior Major Clay in the high jump.
“We will also be competing in the distance medley on Friday and I think they have a good chance to make the provisional qualifying time considering the company they will be competing against,” McNichols said.
The rest of the Sycamore men's team will be at DePauw University for the Tiger Invitational including the vaulters and throwers.
“DePauw has an outstanding indoor facility, especially for the field events,” McNichols said. “It is a more relaxed atmosphere than at Notre Dame and the men can really work on their techniques as well as distance.”
Indiana State women's track & field coach John Gartland will be sending 12 women to the Meyo Invitational.
“This is a very fast 320 meter track at Notre Dame and this meet is all about letting the women run as fast as they can on a quality track,” Gartland said.
Senior Erica Moore will be competing in the 800 meters on Saturday on a track where she set the Indiana State indoor record at the 2009 Stan Lyons Invitational. Moore will also anchor the 4x400 relay.
“The relay team came very close to a provisional qualifying time last week and they are loaded up and ready to go after that mark this week,” Gartland said. “We are also running a distance medley that will be competing against some very heady competition.”
The 4x400 relay team includes senior Lauren Martin, who will be taking a break from jumps competition to focus on the 4sx400, freshman Stacia Weatherford who will also compete in the 400 meters, and freshman Leann Michl who will be on both relays this weekend. Sophomore Kacie Klem, sophomore Kaci Smith, and junior Kelsie Slater join Michl's on the distance relay team.
The rest of the Sycamore women's team will be at the Tiger Invitational on Saturday, a place where Indiana State has enjoyed success.
“We will be trying to take advantage of one of the finest facilities against a very good Division III program,” Gartland said. “This is a place where our field athletes have enjoyed success and where our developing athletes can gain the kind of competition they need to become vital parts of our team this season.”
