The indoor track and field season is coming to a close, but not before a few champions will be crowned. Athletes from the Big 12 will have an opportunity to do that this weekend at the Big 12 Indoor Track and Field Championships.

In addition to potentially winning a Big 12 title, this is also the final chance athletes will have to qualify for the NCAA Indoor Championships, which will be held in two weeks.

The ISU women’s track and field team has a chance at crowning a few winners this weekend, and have the added bonus of the meet being held at its home track.

Ejiro Okoro currently owns the third fastest time nationally in her main event, the 800-meter run. Okoro comes in as the favorite in the event and will be gunning for her first Big 12 Championship.

“It’s a really good field, but we’re going to say bring it on and let [Okoro] control the race,” said ISU assistant coach Andrea Grove-McDonough.

Okoro also has the added benefit of already qualifying for the NCAA Championship meet, which she said takes the pressure off and allows her to relax.

“I feel more relaxed and chilled now, because I already have my qualifying standard,” Okoro said. “It frees me up so that I can just go run my race and not worry about any of that.”

Another favorite to win a Big 12 title is Christina Hillman. The All-American junior currently owns the top shot put in the nation on the season and is coming off a sixth place finish at the USA Indoor Championships, where she was the top collegiate finisher.

Distance runner Bethanie Brown will also be eyeing a title. Brown was a cross-country All-American earlier this season, and that has given the freshman confidence throughout the indoor track season.

“I think being an All-American in cross-country was like a wake up call,” Brown said. “It showed me I could be competitive at this level.”

Brown has ran the anchor leg of the women’s distance medley this season, which has a good chance at winning a Big 12 title, and a shot at punching a ticket to the NCAA Championships as well. Brown has also competed in a number of distance events throughout the course of the season.

“[Big meets] don’t phase Bethanie Brown and that’s the reason why she made such an impact as a freshman, which is unusual,” Grove-McDonough said. “She has a lot of poise and she really, really prefers the big meets.”

Besides individual efforts, the team is also eyeing a Big 12 team title. It will be the first time all season that a team score will be taken into account. Having a team score, as opposed to just racing for individual finishes, provides extra motivation to the athletes.

“I think there is a heightened sense of excitement and maybe some nerves…but I think team competition always brings out the best in athletes,” Grove-McDonough said. “There is a bigger picture than just the individual side.”