This weekend a group of middle-distance runners will represent the ISU men’s track and field team at the BU John Thomas Terrier Invitational. They will have a chance to compete with thousands of athletes from across the nation.

“I’m very excited to see how Martin Coolidge does in the 3000-meter run, being his first race of the year,” said men’s distance coach Jeremy Sudbury. “The other guys have a race under their belt. It will be nice to see him open up after a very strong season in cross country.”

Sudbury said Coolidge and Brian Llamas will be running 3k in sections No. 1 and No. 2, and Alex Dillenbeck will compete in the mile. Alec Baldwin and Joe Gioielli — a recent mid-year transfer from Central Connecticut — will run the 1,000 meters.

“What this meet does for us is just get us in a highly competitive atmosphere. The BU meet is known for having fast times and a lot of fast athletes,” Sudbury said. 

Sudbury said the Nike Oregon Project, an Olympic developmental team, is going to try to set the world record this weekend in the two-mile race with Galen Rupp – a silver medalist from the 2012 Olympics.

Baldwin said he plans on specializing in the 1,000-meter this season after coming off an impressive 2:27 in his first ever 1,000-meter race at Penn State.

“The first race gave me a lot of confidence. It was in a little bit slower heat, but I was able to execute the race strategy very well, and I ended up winning that heat down at Penn State.” Baldwin said.

Baldwin said the additional confidence from the win and a well-executed strategy will be two big factors heading into Boston.

“Coaches have been doing a lot of different things. We spend a lot of time here. Specifically we have been doing a lot of extra core work, extra leg work, just things that get us stronger in general,” Baldwin said. “That type of work can really make you a better and stronger runner on the track.”

Sudbury said at this point in the season, it’s too early to tell what success may unfold as Iowa State heads into conference season, but he’s confident its indoor strengths can translate to outdoor competition. 

“We have a pretty loaded team, especially in the distance and mid-distance right now,” Baldwin said. “I think coach has a pretty good goal going into the conference meet for us.”