Cyclones split up in California for two different meets

Redshirt+senior+Rico+Loy+races+his+anchor+leg+of+the+distance+medley%C2%A0during+the+Big+12+Indoor+Track+and+Field+Championships+on+Saturday%2C+Feb.+23%2C+at+Lied+Recreational+Athletic+Center.+The+Cyclones+medley+finished+eighth+with+a+time+of+10%3A14.05.%0A

Photo: Jonathan Krueger/Iowa State Daily

Redshirt senior Rico Loy races his anchor leg of the distance medley during the Big 12 Indoor Track and Field Championships on Saturday, Feb. 23, at Lied Recreational Athletic Center. The Cyclones medley finished eighth with a time of 10:14.05.

Isaac Copley

The ISU track and field teams are spending the weekend in California to compete in two different meets. The Cyclones will send one group to the Bryan Clay Invitational and another to the Beach Invitational.

Men’s long-distance runner Rico Loy headlines a group that includes many young runners trying to gain experience in meets this spring for the first time.

“We’re splitting up and we’re going to try to get a lot of people out there competing,” said ISU coach Corey Ihmels. “We’re hoping to get good results out of some less-experienced runners.”

Ejiro Okoro joins the group heading to the Bryan Clay Invitational as a mid-distance runner. Competing in the 800-meter run, Okoro hopes to see her training pay off in the coming weeks.

“Training is going well, it’s important to translate the work we put into training and move that to competitions in meets,” Okoro said.

At the Beach Invitational, sprinters Ryan Sander and Ian Warner lead a group of young Cyclone sprinters. Ethan Wilkins will compete in various sprint and field events, preparing for the decathlon at the Big 12 Championships.

With only three weeks separating the Cyclones from the Big 12 Championships, athletes are hoping to see their best performances of the season to date this weekend.

The Bryan Clay Invitational takes place on Friday, at Cougar Athletic Stadium in Azusa, Calif.

The Beach Invitational takes place April 19-20, 2013, at Cerritos College in Norwalk, Calif.