Nation's Best Track Athletes Converge at Husker Invitational This Weekend

PROVO, Utah (February 8) - Athletes from over 50 teams will send representatives to the Husker Invitational on the campus of the University of Nebraska Feb. 11-12 in what looks to be a preview of the NCAA indoor championships. The meet will be highlighted by a showdown between Nebraska's No. 9 and No. 13 women's and men's teams and BYU's No. 15 and No. 22 squads. Eight of the nation's individual leaders and 60 athletes who rank in the top 10 in their respective events will compete in Lincoln.

All eyes will be on BYU junior Jim Roberts, whose 64'-10.5" performance last Saturday in the shot put gave him the national lead and earned him Mountain West Conference athlete of the week honors. He will face off against Nebraska freshman Carl Myerscough, currently ranked second in the nation. BYU star sprinter Kenneth Andam will not participate this weekend after suffering a first-degree sprain of his left ankle on a turn in the 200 meters last Saturday.

The men will also send a team of athletes to the Wildcat Invitational in Ogden Feb. 12 to compete against in-state rivals Weber State and Utah State, among others. "Most of our guys will be involved this weekend, and it will give them a chance to compete against athletes from all over the nation," said men's coach Willard Hirschi. "Our hope for this weekend is that some people who have seen spurts of brilliance will perform with fluidity when their time comes, and qualify for the NCAAs."

BYU's women will also compete with split squads this weekend, as a variety of athletes will travel to Nebraska while the distance runners make a visit to the Butler Invitational in Indianapolis Friday and Saturday. Women's coach Craig Poole plans to use Butler as a qualifying platform, hoping to qualify a distance medley team and a couple of 400-meter athletes, as well as the Cougars' best distance runners for the NCAA finals. "Both will be fast meets," said Poole. "Lately we've been resting and backing off a little, but we've always done well at these meets in the past, so we're looking to pick up a bunch of good marks this weekend."