After coming home from the New Balance Invitational in New York, the ISU men’s track and field team will get another chance to improve before the Big 12 Championships.

The annual Iowa State Classic is the only thing still separating the team from its main focus.

“We have had a lot of opportunities this season but we are down to our last big opportunity before the conference meet,” said ISU coach Corey Ihmels.

The meet will have the Cyclones competing against in-state rivals Drake, Iowa and Northern Iowa along with conference rivals Kansas and Kansas State among others.

“It is important to the athletes that have done well to get one more good competition in,” Ihmels said. “It is also important for the athletes on the bubble not knowing whether or not they are going to compete in the conference meet to get a good chance to show what they are capable of.”

Edward Kemboi will get another chance at home to break an ISU record. Kemboi broke the school record last meet for the second time in the 1,000-meter run in as many weeks with a time of 2:21.89, which has made him the current national leader at the colligate level.

“My goal is to still run a better time and get faster each and every race,” Kemboi said. “I need to boost my team by doing well and getting a lot of points.”

The Iowa State Classic will start at 10 a.m. Thursday with the multi-event competitions at the Lied Recreation Athletic Center and will go until Saturday.