The Cyclones hope the training they’ve had in the last two weeks will pay off this weekend when they travel to the Nebraska Invitational.

“We have been doing a lot of lactate sets,” junior breaststroker Jeli Nixt said.

In lactate testing, each swimmer breaks her particular race into splits and sets goal times for each. For example, freshman Taylor Vieau, who swims the 500-freestyle, would break that 500 yards into 100s and then 50s and set goal times.

In practice, Coach Duane Sorenson told swimmers to swim five 100s at race pace. This type of workout makes the swimmers more aware of pacing for longer distance swims and faster for sprints.

The swimmers have been practicing hard to ensure a second victory over Nebraska this season.

“Nebraska has one swimmer in each event swimming faster than last year. We have at least two in each event swimming faster times than this time last year,” said Nixt.

Beating Nebraska won’t be the only obstacle for the Cyclones. They will also swim against Colorado State, Northern Colorado, Rice and Northern Texas for the first time this season, and they will meet Nebraska-Omaha and San Diego State for the second time. Nixt expects Colorado State to be the toughest competition.

The team is confident in scoring in the distance freestyle races with Jenny Vondenkamp, as well as with breaststroke and butterfly races and the three diving events. To beat Colorado State the Cyclones will have to focus and use their training in the sprint freestyle and distance butterfly races.

The Nebraska Invitational takes place over the course of four days, allowing swimmers to swim two or three more events than at a typical one day meet.

“Normally I swim three or four events. Since it’s more spread out I’m swimming six or seven races for this meet,” Nixt said.

This type of event can prove to be difficult in keeping the intensity high throughout the weekend.

“We start out with a lot of energy, but towards the end you kind of lose energy. That’s when the teamwork and cheering comes through,” said Nixt.

Nixt said that because the team has been training harder than last year, and also has more in-depth, it will perform better at this meet. Iowa State finished third out of six teams last year.

“Hopefully we end up first,” Nixt said.