KEVIN JENISON
GoSycamores.com
TERRE HAUTE, Ind. - With scored dual meets behind them, the Indiana State track & field teams will focus on individual performances for the next three weeks as they continue their preparation for the 2011 Missouri Valley Conference Indoor Championships Feb. 24-25 in Cedar Falls, Iowa.
The Sycamores begin the three-week stretch of performance work at the Indiana University Relays Friday and Saturday in Gladstein Fieldhouse on the campus of Indiana University in Bloomington, Ind. Gladstein Fieldhouse features a 200-meter Mondo-surfaced banked track that was once housed in the RCA Dome in Indianapolis. Competition begins at 3 p.m. (ET) Friday and 10:00 a.m. (ET) Saturday.
"We are in a three-week invitational cycle on banked or oversized tracks where the emphasis will be on individual performances," John McNichols, Indiana State men's track & field coach, said. "We are working toward establishing good seed times and distances for the conference championship."
Indiana State has a long history of participating in the Indiana Relays but did not compete in the event the last couple of years due to scheduling conflicts.
"It is good for our athletes to compete in a championship setting," McNichols said. "There will be a number of outstanding individuals at this meet which will give our athletes a good sense of where they are and how much work there still needs to be done."
McNichols was an official at the Indiana Relays after graduation and served as starter for several years before becoming the head coach at Indiana State.
"There will be a wide range of talent at this meet," Angela Martin, Indiana State women's track & field coach, said. "The team goal remains to keep progressing in the individual athletes events as we prepare for the conference championship."
Both coaches feel that the team chemistry is as good or better than it has been in several years, especially on the women's side.
"We don't have the studs that scored the majority of points for us in the past," Martin said. "This team has come together, worked hard, and realizes that team success is just as important as individual success. They believe in each other, push each other, cheer for each other, and work hard towards our team goals. That shows in the results as we have improved each week."
McNichols is also happy with the team chemistry.
"We had a very successful January," McNichols said. "I really like the way the team has responded to the competition. Track is both a team sport and an individual sport, at least on the collegiate level. This team is working hard both as a team and as individuals."
The Indiana Relays feature both regular track & field events and invitation only events which feature the top athletes in their respective events. Several Sycamores have been invited to compete in the invitational events including Nicole Hope and Richelle Kimble in the women's pole vault, Felisha Johnson and Mary Theisen in the women's shot put, Johnson in the women's weight throw, Brandon Pounds in the men's weight throw, Andrew Stull in the men's 200 meter, Leeann Michl in the women's 600 meter, Jeremiah Vaughan in the men's mile, Craig Padgett in the men's 3000 meter, and Albaro Escalera in the men's 5000 meters.
Two former Sycamores will also be in the competition including Drake Sterling in the men's 800 meter invitational and Jordan Fife in the men's 3,000 meter invitational.
"These unscored invitationals allow us the opportunity to move people around and hold others out as needed," McNichols said.
ISU high jumper Major Clay and triple jumper Ernest Rollins are among those that will not compete this weekend.
"Clay has the opportunity to compete for a spot on the Olympic team so we have set up his practice and competition schedule for him to be well rested and peak at the right times," John Gartland, Indiana State coach of the high jumpers, said.
Rollins is being rested after winning the triple jump the last two weeks in Sycamore dual meet wins over Illinois State and Purdue.
Gladstein Fieldhouse is located north of Center Campus, east of Assembly Hall along North Fee Lane, north of 17th Street, and south of the Indiana 45/46 Bypass.
Live results from the meet can be found at: http://iuhoosiers.cstv.com/livestats/c-track/indrel12/
