Performance breakthroughs anticipated for upcoming meet

Sally Donlin

The ISU track and field team will be headed to Tempe, Ariz., to compete in the Sun Angels Track Classic Thursday through Saturday.

The team will be sending the majority of its mid-distance runners to the meet along with a few distance runners and the field event competitors.

Mid-distance coach Kristy Popp has high hopes for many of her athletes, including Elphas Sang, who took first place in the men’s 800-meter run in 1:52.72 minutes at the Missouri Relays last weekend.

“I think he’s ready to have a breakthrough race here any meet now,” Popp said. “He’s been stuck on that 1:50 mark all of the indoor season so we are hoping to see him do good things.”

Senior Lucy Kennedy has been overcoming a physical setback with an Achilles tendon issue this past week but she has been doing well and will be ready to compete this weekend.

Distance runner Kersten Thorgaard had a successful meet last weekend as well taking first in the 800-meter and second in the 1,500-meter.

“Kersten has been a little stuck around that 2:10 mark so we’re trying to get her under that,” Popp said. “We’ve had a tough week of training so she’s tired now but hopefully she’ll bounce back in time for the weekend.”

The team is expecting warmer weather for the weekend when they will face tough competition.

Events will begin at 2 p.m. Friday, and 11 a.m. Saturday in Tempe, Ariz.