While the ISU women’s track field team is sending Betsy Saina, Dani Stack and Meaghan Nelson to the NCAA Indoor Championships, the ISU men were unable to qualify for any at-large bids in any events for national competition.

Coach Corey Ihmels said while it is disappointing not to have anybody on the men’s side heading to nationals, he is looking forward to seeing what the men can do in the outdoor season.

“We were just a little too far down the list on all of the kids we thought [would have a shot at qualifying],” Ihmels said. “It’s a little disappointing but I think we’ve got a lot of kids in the junior class and some kids in the younger classes who are really ready to break through.”

Ihmels said with the indoor season completed, everyone is healthy for the most part and will definitely be ready to go in three or four weeks when the outdoor season gets going and post some fast times.

“Traditionally, over the last few years, we’ve been kind of in the same boat indoors then we get outdoors, and we have three or four guys who really run well at the end of the year and hopefully that’s the case this year,” Ihmels said.

Junior Charlie Paul said while the indoor season is important to get in quality training, it is not ideal to have “too good of a season” because it is good to peak at the wrong time of the year.

“You want to get some good experiences in and get some good races in but you don’t want to be in your best shape in the indoor season,” Paul said.

Ihmels said while there were some disappointments during the indoor season, there were also many good things such as Rico Loy’s Big 12 Championship in the mile run. He also said now the men are looking forward and getting ready for an outdoor season, that will last from the middle of March until June.

“Were we satisfied with the conference finish? No,” Ihmels said. “But I think if you throw [sophomore Edward Kemboi] in that mix next year and all of a sudden that takes you from ninth to the top half of the conference quickly.

“I think we’re making progress. The next two, three and four weeks are pretty important as we go outside to really build back up and get going.”