Editor’s note: This is a profile of the womens’ track team. The profile of the mens’ track team is available here.

When the young ISU women’s track team runs at the ISU Open at the Lied Recreation Athletic Center on Friday, they will gain something countless hours of practice couldn’t give them – experience.

The ISU Open offers the Cyclones the chance to gain meet experience in a low-pressure environment, which should help them throughout the indoor season.

“These early meets kind of give us a benchmark of our performances and gives us an idea of what we need to work on as we get closer to the more competitive meets,” sprint coach Scott Roberts said. “For instance, this meet is ran on both Friday and Saturday. I want the kids to compete on both days which helps them simulate that for the conference meet.”

The ISU Open will have some competitive teams but won’t be as hotly contested as future meets later in the Big 12 track season. Head coach Dick Lee said primarily Div. II and Div. III teams will be attendance along with a few Div. I programs.

The meet will feature Big 12 foe Oklahoma State, Northern Iowa and junior college power Barton County Community College.

BCCC has won the NJCAA Indoor Championships every year since 1998 and has not placed worse than second since 1989.

“It’s not as deep in quality as what a February meet will be,” Lee said. “At the very top end, it’s usually very competitive in every event. We don’t want this meet to be as competitive as a what a February meet is. It’s the first meet back from break.”

Along with experience, early season meets provide the young and experienced athletes alike the chance to gain confidence – something that will be pivotal to the growth and success of the team.

“Confidence is very important,” Roberts said. “In these early meets, we’re not seeing quite as much competition, which is great for them to be able learn their skills in maybe a little bit less pressure environment.”

While the younger runners will soak up the experience at the ISU Open, veteran runners such as senior sprinter Rebecca Williams will look to make an early season statement.

While others had to brave the Iowa winter over break, she had the luxury of training in Arizona over break.

Williams, a two-time NCAA Outdoor Championships qualifier, said the weather helped her work out and stay in competitive shape.

She hopes to get off to a good start this season.

“I want to run faster early,” she said. “I really want to get a qualifying time.”