After an outdoor season full of cold and rainy weather, the ISU men’strack team is ready for the heart of its schedule.

The final stretch of the season, which includes the Drake Relays, the Big 12 Championships and NCAA Regionals and Nationals begins this weekend with the John McDonnell Invitational on Saturday in

Fayetteville, Ark.

Coach Steve Lynn said the team will be ready for upcoming meets despite the nasty weather that has plagued it all

season.

“We feel like we’re in good shape,” Lynn said. “I don’t think [the weather] matters now. I think they’ve prepared and they will be ready to go.”

The final meet before the Drake Relays on April 25 to 28 will match Iowa State against a number of strong schools including the host Razorbacks, who finished in the top 10 in the NCAA Indoor Championships in March.

The strong competition is just what the Cyclones are looking for as they prepare for the Relays.

“I think the added importance is that it’s one of the best facilities and one of the best programs in the country,” Lynn said. “When you go down there you know you better be ready to perform.”

After getting a full weekend of competition for the first time in three weeks, the Cyclones will now focus on getting individuals qualified for NCAA Regionals.

Eric Parker will run the 400-meter hurdles for the first time since the April 4-7 Texas Relays. Parker said even if he doesn’t pull off a regional qualifying time this weekend, the preparation for Drake could be what he needs to reach the time.

“Even if I don’t qualify for regionals, if I can get my time close to the regional mark, I can come back home for Drake in front of all the Iowa fans, and just have that extra adrenaline to push me over the

edge,” Parker said.

Parker said the promise of warm weather in Arkansas provides a light at the end of the tunnel.

“Having bad weather week after week . with hurdlers, we can’t set up our hurdles inside for the 400,” he said. “It’s frustrating, but then seeing the nice weather coming up, it excites us, knowing we can get some good times.”

Elsewhere, Brandon Rooney and Richard Newton will run the 1,500-meter run, Jared Graham and Elijah Braimah will run the 400-meter dash, Jared Lewis the 200 and Kellen Burl will run the 110-hurdles. The

4×400-meter relay team will also compete.

Field events start at 9 a.m. Saturday.