Members of the ISU men’s and women’s track teams will try to extend their seasons by competing at NCAA Regionals at Drake on Friday and Saturday. To have a shot to qualify for NCAA Nationals, which take place June 6 to 9, athletes will have to prove themselves against loaded competition, as all but one Big 12 team will be part of the field.

“It’s basically the Big 12 plus some other really good teams,” men’s coach Steve Lynn said. “Every event is absolutely loaded that we are competing in here.”

Drake is one of four sites to host a Regional meet this weekend. The top five in each individual event qualify for Nationals, held in Sacramento, Calif., setting a minimum of 20 people in each event.

Afterwards, an at-large selection takes place based on the best times not to automatically qualify from around the nation. Iowa State will compete in a number of events on both the men’s and women’s sides. Iowa State’s events, which start Friday, include many preliminary races that make up a large part of their schedules. The majority of finals will take place Saturday.

• The 4×400-meter relay team of Jared Lewis, Elijah Braimah, Tony Stanfield and Jared Graham sits 13th in the nation of teams declared for Regionals. However, the team, which qualified for NCAA Indoor Nationals in March, will need a top-three finish, as only the top three relay teams of each region qualify for Nationals, and the men face five teams with better times.

  “This region is, without question, the deepest as far as the 4×4 is concerned. Our guys are running very well; they know what they need to do,” Lynn said.

• Graham will also compete in the 400-meter dash, where he would be an underdog.
• Lewis and Braimah will also compete in the 200.

  “The 200 is certainly one of the strongest events in this meet. They’re both ready to run their best time of the year,” Lynn said.

• Jayden Russ will represent the men’s distance runners in the 3,000-meter steeplechase. Although Russ only has the 79th best time in the nation, Lynn said his progression will give him a chance to make Nationals.

  “Jayden has gotten better every race throughout the year. He would need his best race of the year, but he’s in position after the Big 12 meet to place high enough in order to go to the NCAAs,” Lynn said.

• In the high jump, Drake Relays champion Julian Morris will need to improve on his best mark of 2.10 meters. Morris would likely have to improve to 2.15 in order to have any hope of receiving an at-large bid.
• On the women’s side, Big 12 10,000 champion Lisa Koll will try to follow up her performance by qualifying for Nationals in the 5,000. Koll is 21st on the list of runners declared eligible for the event around the nation, and should be able to take an at-large bid, if she can’t reach the top five.

  “If we can save some energy this weekend, we will probably do that to help her out at Nationals,” women’s coach Dick Lee said.

• Big 12 Indoor champion Rebecca Williams will try to get back to Nationals in the 100-meter hurdles. Lee said Williams will have a good shot at an at-large bid if she makes finals in the event.

  “She’s beaten several of the kids in front of her at various times in the year. If she makes it to finals, her time will probably get her there,” Lee said.

  Jenna Caffrey will also compete in the same race.

• In the 800-meter run, Jenny Mockler will be a long shot as she has the 68th best time in the nation. However, Lee said Mockler was ready to make a charge.

  “She’s in the best shape she’s been in all season, and she really wants to get there. She’s a little bit of a long shot, but I wouldn’t bet against her,” he said.

• Sara Boisen will compete in the 400-meter hurdles, although she isn’t expected to make the cut.
• Agata Kosuda, who finished 10th in the NCAA Indoor Championships in the triple jump, will take another shot at making it outdoors.

  “Her position is pretty solid there, but she just needs to get a good jump to be assured of that,” Lee said.

• Priya Hoze will run in the triple and long jumps.