KEVIN JENISON
GoSycamores.com
NEW ORLEANS ? The Indiana State track & field teams will be back in action this weekend as they compete in the Indiana University Invitational, a quadrangular track meet between Indiana State, Indiana, Michigan State, and Missouri. Competition will be held on Saturday and Sunday at the Robert C. Haugh Track & Field Complex in Bloomington, Ind.
“This should be another great collegiate track meet,” John McNichols, Indiana State men's track & field coach, said. “This is the way track should be and I am glad that the IU program puts together a meet like this. It is important for the athletes to respond to this competition because it is more about who beats who and less about performance. It should be a great meet for the fans.
“Last weekend we had great conditions and great competition but were not able to take advantage of it,” McNichols said. “We have to work to eliminate the mistakes that cost us but we do have the depth to have a very good meet.”
The Missouri men enter the competition ranked 34th in the nation with Indiana 56th, Michigan State 58th, and Indiana State 96th. On the women's side, the Indiana Hoosiers are ranked 28th with Michigan State 62nd, Indiana State 92nd, and Missouri 156th. The rankings are based on the national performance list.
“Although we were runner up to Missouri last week, we get another chance to beat them this weekend at Indiana,” Angie Martin, Indiana women's track & field coach, said. “It will be a very, very competitive meet this weekend and I just hope that we are ready. Each meet this season has raised the level of competition and we have to step up our level this weekend.
“We have been improving our performances with each meet this season,” Martin said. “Our goal remains to keep improving each week as we count down the days to the conference meet. I believe that we will continue that progress this weekend.”
The Indiana men are the top ranked team in the Great Lakes Region with Michigan State seventh and Indiana State ninth. Missouri is ranked seventh in the Midwest Region. The Indiana women are ranked second in the Great Lakes Region with Michigan State ninth and Indiana State 10th. Missouri is ranked 12th in the Midwest Region.
Saturday's field events begin at 5:30 p.m. (ET) with competition in the hammer, javelin, pole vault, and triple jump. Track events begin at 7 p.m. (ET) with the running of the 4x100 meter relay, 1,500 meters, 400 meter hurdles, and 5,000 meters.
Sunday's field event action starts at 11 a.m. (ET) with competition in discus, shot put, high jump, and long jump. The track events start at 12 p.m. (ET) with the 100 meter and 110 meter hurdles. They will be followed by the 100 meters, 400 meters, 800 meters, 200 meters, 3,000 meter steeplechase, and conclude with the 4x400 meter relay. Competition is scheduled to end at around 3 p.m. (ET).
The Invitational was held at Indiana State a year ago as work on the Indiana track complex was completed and featured the Missouri Valley Conference (Indiana State and Southern Illinois) going up against the Big Ten (Indiana and Michigan State). The Sycamore women finished third with 156.50 points but did beat Indiana who scored 153.0 points. ISU also combined with the Salukis to lead the MVC over the Big Ten 343.50-326.50. The Indiana State men were fourth with 133.50 points with the Big Ten defeating the MVC 384.50-286.50.
The Sycamores ran against Missouri last weekend. The Tigers replace Southern Illinois in this year's competition.
