BYU track hits the ground running

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More than 100 track and field athletes are replacing their Christmas sweaters for BYU track uniforms with their first meets of the year only four days after classes resume.

While the men’s team stays home to compete in the BYU Invitational and grab its first marks of the year, 48 members of the women’s team will head to Boise State’s Jackson Open. The women’s throwers will be competing at home alongside the men against Utah Valley University and the University of Utah.

Patrick Shane, head coach of the women’s team, is excited to see how the new throwers preform in the invitational.

“I am looking forward to seeing where we stand, both here and in Boise,” Shane said. “This is our starting point.”

This indoor season will be short and sweet, giving both the men and women fewer than seven weeks to get their best marks in preparation for the competitive qualifying meets following the conference championship at the end of February. Preseason rankings and speculations are proving hopeful, showing men’s track and field ranked No. 13 in the nation going into the indoor season.

Both Shane and the men’s head coach, Mark Robison, agree the meets this weekend are necessary after such a long holiday break.

“We need this meet this weekend to see where we are at,” Robison said.

Pole vault on both the men’s and women’s side have high expectations and talent for the season, along with men’s sprints and women’s throws. The BYU Invitational begins Thursday at 2 p.m. at the Smith Fieldhouse and ends Saturday.

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