One weekend before the Drake Relays, the ISU men’s and women’s track teams will compete at the Musco Twilight at the University of Iowa, and a few members will travel to Baylor University in Waco, Texas, for the Michael Johnson Classic on Friday and Saturday.

For the men, all but one competitor will go to Iowa, a meet in which the Cyclones will compete against the Hawkeyes, as well as Minnesota and Drake, among others. Coach Steve Lynn said the meet is important for competitors to get ready for the Drake Relays.

“A lot of that is going to be determined by what happens this weekend over here, so that makes it important that way because everybody wants to run at Drake [Relays], and not everybody can,” Lynn said. “Only the guys that are running the fastest can run at Drake [Relays], so this weekend is important to determine who’s doing what.”

Lynn said a number of runners can have a regional-qualifying run, among those being Dan Taylor, who will be running in the 1500-meter run.

“Dan Taylor has been running really well, and he hasn’t had a breakthrough race yet,” Lynn said.

Chase Madison was scheduled to throw the shot put for the first time this year last weekend at Nebraska, but rain prevented him from doing so. He will throw the shot put and discus this weekend.

“It’s a strong discus field and a strong shot put field, and in the shot put we really just want him to get through there, have good technique and stay healthy,” Lynn said. “In the discus, he wants to go a long way in that. And it’s fun to watch him do it, so we’re all for that.”

Other competitors for the Cyclones include David Rotich and Brandon Rooney in the 800-meter run, Elijah Braimah in the 400-meter run, Kellen Burl in the 110-meter hurdles, Eric Parker in the 400-meter hurdles and Tony Douglas, who will be the only member of the men’s team to compete at Baylor in the triple jump.

On the women’s side, Ada Anderson, Sara Boisen, Leia Jackson and Katie Paulson will highlight the runners competing at Baylor. Leigh Wagner and April Fabert will jump at Baylor against teams such as Arkansas, Oklahoma State and Notre Dame.

“That’s where the best competition is,” said Scott Roberts, sprints, hurdles and multi events coach.

“We want to go and get those kids who have qualified for regionals – and those that are on the verge of qualifying for regionals – the best opportunity to see competition that’s going to help them down the road.”

Roberts is hoping for Anderson in the 800-meter run and Boisen in the 400-meter hurdles to have good races.

“I think Ada [Anderson] will have a breakthrough this weekend,” Roberts said. “Sara [Boisen] – she’s as strong as she’s ever been in her career, and she’s definitely ready to run really fast and run a personal best this weekend.”

The rest of the team will compete in Iowa City, which Coach Dick Lee said is as an opportunity to get ready for the Drake Relays next weekend.

“This weekend will give us a good idea of what we can do down there. Most years we know pretty much what we’re doing going into this weekend. Some years you don’t,” Lee said. “Hopefully we’ll have a couple of kids come through this weekend that give us the option to run them at the relays.”

Lee said he is also looking to see improvement from last week.

“We saw some improvement last week and we had some kids that didn’t race as well last week as they did the week before,” Lee said.

“Hopefully those kids will come back and have a good week this week.”

The action in Iowa City begins at 2:30 p.m. Saturday with the men’s discus throw.

The Drake Relays are April 27 to 29. Tickets to the can be purchased online at www.drakebulldogs.org/ticketsrelays.php.