The ISU track program will get a first-hand look at the track where the Big 12 Conference Championships will be held when they travel to Nebraska this weekend for the Husker Invitational.

The track at the Bob Devaney Sports Center is different from the track the Cyclones use for practice daily at the Lied Recreational Athletic Center. The Lied track is 300 meters long and completely flat, while the track at the Devaney Center is 200 meters long and has banked corners.

“This is the track where the Big 12 indoor meet is held. This will be a chance for us to get on the track and get us to use the banks,” said Ronnie Williams, sprint and hurdles coach. “There is a big difference to running on the banks compared to running at the Lied. The track is smaller – it only being 200 meters – and, with the banks, it takes a little adjusting.”

A few members of the team competed at the Arkansas Invitational on Jan. 11 on a track that is also banked.

“One positive is that a group of our kids have run on the banks at Arkansas earlier in the season, so that will help us this weekend,” Williams said.

The Cyclones are coming off a strong showing at the ISU Open, which saw the team bring home several first-place finishes. Many of those who garnered first place finishes will also be competing this weekend, including sophomore Lashawn Wright, senior Lisa Koll and freshman Brittany Machacek. All three women will be looking to improve their times and keep their momentum rolling.

On the men’s side, junior James Galvan and senior Kiel Uhl will be coming off impressive victories.

Galvan won the 800-meter run at the ISU Open with a new school record and provisionally qualifying time for the NCAA Championships. Uhl will also look to have a repeat performance, but this time it will be in a different event. At the ISU Open, Uhl edged out teammate sophomore Hillary Bor in the 3000-meter run, but this time Uhl will look to make some noise in the mile.

The teams feel keeping their momentum going and continuing to gain confidence are essential over the next two weeks as they head into the Iowa State Classics – one of the largest indoor meets in the nation – the Big 12 Championships and, eventually, the NCAA Championships.

“I think that it is very important to keep the momentum going as we go to compete at Nebraska this weekend,” Williams said. “I have been preaching to all our kids that competed for the first time that they were ready to go out and perform at a high level. It was very nice to see them get off to a strong start, and I look forward to them carrying that momentum into this week as well.”