The men’s and women’s track and field teams get their first real challenges of the young indoor season over the next few days.
The teams’ long-distance running contingent will start its season Saturday at the University of Washington Invitational in Seattle. The remaining athletes will travel to Albuquerque, N.M., for the University of New Mexico Invitational, running today through Saturday.
“”This meet is geared toward higher performers,”” said UA head coach Fred Harvey, who will travel with the portion of the team heading to Albuquerque. “”The competition will be much greater”” than in last week’s Lumberjack Invitational in Flagstaff, he said.
“”It’ll really give us an opportunity to see the level of our athletes,”” headded.
Nick Mossberg, a junior pole vaulter, echoed his coach, calling the Lumberjack Invitational “”a real small meet, basically a warm-up for the rest of the season and this meet.””
As no points will be awarded in either meet, the goal for athletes is simply to qualify for the 2007 NCAA Indoor National Championships March 5.
Jake Arnold, reigning NCAA champion in the decathlon, will compete in his first heptathlon of the season in Albuquerque.
UA associate head coach James Li will lead the distance runners – including senior Obed Mutanya, a 2006 All-American – in their first meet of the indoor season in Seattle.
The distance team will also feature a group of “”developmental athletes,”” Harvey said.
Because Arizona does not have an indoor track facility, the Wildcats are forced to train outdoors and compete exclusively on the road during the indoor season.
“”It’s not really that bad since we live in Arizona,”” said junior Daniel Marshall, who will be competing in the triple jump in Albuquerque. “”For jumpers, the only real difference is that there is no wind (indoors).””
The track teams will not compete together until the Mountain Pacific Championships in Seattle Feb. 23-24.
“”We’ve been training super hard and super intense,”” Mossberg said. “”It’ll be nice to see our hard work pay off.””
