The ISU men’s and women’s track teams will face the elements for the first time this season Friday and Saturday.

The Cyclones will travel to Rice University to compete in the Victor Lopez Rice University Bayou Classic, at which they will face Texas Southern, Texas State, Stephen F. Austin and Texas A&M in Houston, as well as the adjustment of competing in their first outdoor meet.

“They have to get used to the difference, they’re going to feel maybe a little bit sluggish the first time outside,” said Sprints Coach Scott Roberts. “Indoors, you’ve got that wall flying by you, and outdoors there’s a lot more space.”

On the men’s side, Head Coach Steve Lynn is aware that the Cyclones are a little behind where most teams would be on their schedules, but feels they are right where they want to be.

“This is our first outdoor meet. Everybody else there, it will be their second or even their third, but that’s OK,” Lynn said. “We’re not trying to be ready in March; we want to be ready in May or June.”

Part of what Lynn is looking to gain from the meet is for the team to gain outdoor experience and see its response.

“You always have some aches and pains and worries the first time you go outdoors,” Lynn said. “It’s totally different than indoors, the weather, the size of the track and just how you respond to that – it’s just a different thing.”

Lynn also wants to know where the team is at competition level, and hopefully qualify some people for the regional meet.

“We’ll just kind of see where we are,” Lynn said. “I think that we could get several people qualified for regionals this weekend, that’s one of the things you want to do in this first meet. I don’t expect to go out there and have career bests.”

Among people Lynn hopes to see qualified for regionals are Tony Douglas in the long jump and Elijah Braimah in the 400-meter run. Others he expects to have good weekends are hurdlers Kellen Burl and Eric Parker.

One of the worries for Lynn is the 80-degree temperatures, which the Cyclones are not used to.

“The heat is much harder to adjust to than the cold weather,” Lynn said. “You’re always concerned about that with people, so they have to prepare and be ready for it.”

On the women’s side, Roberts is looking for the team mainly to get into the routine of traveling and establishing a starting point.

“Basically we are trying to establish travel routines,” Roberts said. “We’re trying to get a baseline starting point for us to build on the rest of the outdoor season.”

Three-time All-American Ada Anderson will compete in the 800-meter run, and Sara Boisen, coming off of mononucleosis during the indoor season, will compete in the 400-meter hurdles.

“She’s feeling much stronger now, and is looking for a good race,” Roberts said.

Two notable runners redshirting in the outdoor season are Rebecca Williams and Jenny Mockler.

“[They] are spending the spring training and saving a year of eligibility,” Roberts said.

Roberts is also focused on keeping his runners safe in the heat.

“I think [the heat] will actually help them from 800 meters on down,” Roberts said. “It might affect the longer distance runners a little bit more. We have instructed them to drink a lot of water here to avoid the dehydration.”

Friday’s events begin at 6:30 p.m. with the women’s javelin competition.