Teams to Face Tough Competition at Husker Invitational

PROVO -- The BYU track and field teams will compete at the Husker Invitational in Lincoln, Neb., Saturday, Feb. 15. The meet, hosted by the University of Nebraska, will include Air Force, Colorado, New Mexico, Texas Tech, Wichita State and Wyoming.

The BYU men's team is currently ranked third in the USTCA Team Power Rankings, but is not ranked by Trackwire. The Nebraska men's team is ranked fifth in the power rankings, and 15th in the Trackwire Top 25. The Air Force men's team is ranked 21st in the Team Power Rankings.

Pole vaulters Trent Powell and Erik Rasmussen come into the meet after provisionally qualifying last week with a jump of 17-04.75 (5.30m). Sprinter Nate Soelberg, who has the fastest 60-meter time in the MWC, will not make the trip after suffering an injury at the Mountain State Games. Several of the men's distance runners, including Kip Kangogo, Nathan Robison and Bryan Lindsay, will compete at the Montana State University Dual Meet on Friday.

The BYU women's track and field team is ranked 10th in the Team Power Rankings and eighth in the Trackwire Top 25. Nebraska's team is ranked 13th by Trackwire and third in the women's Team Power Rankings. The majority of BYU's distance crew will make the trip, and Nikki Hughes will return to competition after a two-week rest. Last week, the women's team did not qualify any athletes for nationals, but Head Coach Craig Poole said he feels the team is continuing to improve.

Field events will start at 2 p.m. and running events at 4 p.m. The meet will finish with the 4x400m relay at 8:45 p.m. All times are Central Standard Time. The 28th Annual Husker Invitational is the Cougars' last meet before the Mountain West Conference Championships in Colorado Springs, Colo.