The Ohio men's and women's track teams begin the indoor season Saturday at the Bowling Green Invitational and Quadrangular.
Members of both teams aim to find out where they stand after several months of off-season conditioning, coach Clay Calkins said.
The first meet is always a test to see who came back in shape from winter break
he said. We have high expectations this year for both men's and women's so we hope to get some good marks to open up with.
Each team, however, starts the season challenged by the loss of a key runner. Men's distance runner Austin Schiele will sit out during the indoor season on a medical redshirt due to a foot injury, while women's middle-distance runner Stephanie Willets left the team for personal reasons.
She was someone we definitely did not want to lose
Calkins said. She was an asset to the team.
Calkins said the first meets of the season give several runners the chance to step up to fill in for the losses.
These first couple indoor meets
until we get back outside and practicing on a daily basis
they're going to be practice sessions as well
not only competition
he said.
On the men's side, the meet Saturday will be smaller than for the women.
We're in kind of a weird position because there's only one other men's team
men's distance runner Drew Frum said. It'll just be a test to see what kind of shape we're in.
Bowling Green has only a women's track team. Detroit-Mercy and Ohio will be the only men's teams at the meet. The women will be competing against Detroit-Mercy, Miami and Bowling Green.
Women's hurdler Jericka Duncan said the team has made some changes in conditioning and practice to try avoiding injuries that hindered the team last year.
I think the coaches are doing the right thing as far as the program is concerned
she said. They've been trying to keep us strong and cut down on injuries. We had a lot of injuries last spring. For instance
instead of lifting twice a week
