Cougars Set To Start Outdoor Competition

PROVO -- The BYU men's and women's track teams launch into the outdoor season this week as both travel to San Luis Obispo, Calif. to compete in the Cal Poly Invitational.

After a successful indoor season that saw both teams finish in the top 20 nationally, the Cougars are looking forward to the benefits the outdoor season has to offer.

"Outdoor adds quite a few events that we are pretty good in," BYU men's head coach Mark Robison said. "With the addition of those events we will be a better team. Another benefit is the outdoor season is twice as long so you have twice as many opportunities to qualify your athletes."

In their first outdoor competition of the season, the teams hope to adjust to the change in environment and to discover what the teams can expect from the

"The outdoor season adds a lot of flavor and strength to our team," BYU women's head coach Craig Poole said. "This first meet we are just going to try and find out what we have because the orientation is totally different. We may have some national qualifiers this weekend but we aren't expecting too much."

The Cal Poly Invitational begins competition on Friday with the hammer throw. The rest of the events will be held on Saturday, beginning with the 5000 meters and culminating with the 1600-meter relay.

Other Division I teams scheduled to compete in the meet are Cal Poly, UC Irvine, Fresno State, Sacramento State, Wichita State and Nevada. The meet will not have team scoring.