As the ISU men’s and women’s track teams head into this weekend’s Big 12 Indoor Track and Field Championships, jumps and vaults coach Ron McEachran summed up the teams’ feelings.

“That’s why I think they came to Iowa State – it is to be able to have the opportunity to go into a competition that’s this tough and to compete at this level,” McEachran said.

“That’s why they’re here and this is kind of what it’s all about.”

In a meet that features previous national champions – and the best of the best from the conference – both teams look to pull off some upsets and make their presence felt.

The men’s team isn’t favored to finish highly, but is hoping to do better than last year said Steve Lynn, men’s coach. Iowa State scored just 28 points last year, taking 11th place in the conference.

“We won’t be favored, but we’re going to try to win it,” Lynn said.

“That’s how we have to go after it. I’m excited about the fact we have places where we have chances to do things. Our goal is to score more points than we did last year here.”

Hoping to help the team score more points will be David Rotich, who will run the 1000-meter race.

“You just decide we’re going to go in and we’re going to run fast and beat everybody around,” Lynn said. “David [Rotich] relishes that opportunity, [if] he beats those guys, then that means he can go win nationals.”

Competing in the 5000-meter run will be Dan Taylor and Kiel Uhl. Uhl is coming off of a win in the USA Junior National Cross Country Championships.

“Kiel [Uhl] and Dan [Taylor], I really expect them to be strong in the 5000,” Lynn said. “They’re going to have to run their best races to the end there, but I think they have a chance to do it.”

Chase Madison and Kendall Fogle will compete in the weight throw, which Lynn said he expects to see their best throws of the season.

“Don’t be surprised if they throw a couple feet further,” Lynn said. “That’s what it’s going to take in order to score.”

McEachran said he expects both Tony Douglas and Neil Hines to compete and do well in the throwing events.

“I think Tony [Douglas] and Neil [Hines] both have an excellent chance to score and do well,” McEachran said.

The premier event for the women’s team will be two-time All-American Ada Anderson’s run in the 800 meter. Anderson will be looking for redemption after getting disqualified last year.

“She won it last year but was disqualified, so we’ve got a little extra incentive this year,” said sprints, hurdles and multi-events coach Scott Roberts. “We’ve had some fantastic workouts this week and I think she’s ready to run very fast – possibly a personal record – and should be really good.”

Running hurdles will be Rebecca Williams, who will also be trying for a personal record.

“She’s had some awesome practices this week, we’ve ironed out some things technically and I think she’s ready to possibly [get a] PR (personal record), and if she PRs she’ll break the school record,” Roberts said.

Also looking to improve in the pentathlon is Erica Lynn, who currently has the third-best NCAA provisional qualifying score.

For jumpers, both Jummy Alowonle and Leigh Wagner are competing.

“I’d like to see Jummy [Alowonle] continue to improve – she’s got a chance at it,” McEachran said. “Leigh Wagner, we’re bringing her out of redshirt, and in the conference she’s scored the last two years in indoors and outdoors, so I think Leigh has a chance.”

Unfortunately for the Cyclones, the team has been decimated by injuries and sickness, which will hurt them for team points this weekend. However, coach Dick Lee said he expects big things.

“For the people we’re taking over there we’re pretty excited,” Lee said. “I wish we had just a few more of the bodies that we have here healthy and able to help us score more team points. The people who are taking over are ready to go. We’ve got a few events we feel we can place highly in.”

Iowa State finished in last place in the conference meet last year, with a score of 11.40.

The first event will be the start of the women’s pentathlon at 9:30 a.m. Friday. The meet will continue with the men’s heptathlon, at 9:30 a.m. Saturday.