With the NCAA national meet on the line, Iowa State will be competing in three running events at this weekend’s regional meet in Norman, Okla.

Junior Jared Graham will participate in the open 800-meter run, while senior Abraham Rotich will compete in the open 400 meters.

Graham and Rotich will also be a part of the four-man 1600-meter relay team with sophomore Elijah Braimah and freshman Tony Stanfield. The alternates will be senior James Lopes and junior Justin Sherman.

Head coach Steve Lynn said only the top three teams automatically move on to nationals.

“It is going to be very competitive,” Lynn said. “We are seeded sixth out of 15 teams, so we have to move up several spots.”

The 1600-meter relay team made regionals last year where they finished fifth.

“I think this year’s team is more prepared to run than last year’s team,” Lynn said. “We have a chance to do better. Elijah as our lead-off runner is going to have a chance to put up there. If he does, we’ve got a shot to battle for the top.”

Braimah agreed and said everyone has to step up.

“We have to man-up, go balls-to-the-wall,” Braimah said. “We can be in the top three if everybody competes, because the talent is there. We just all need to want it bad enough and we should get it.”

Lynn said some of the best teams in the nation will be in Norman.

“UNI was All-American in the indoors, and Nebraska and North Texas are probably the next teams,” Lynn said. “We just need to step to the next level and beat some teams that are above us.”

The relay team set a personal record of 3:08.39 at the conference meet and Lynn thinks they will have to run 3:06 to be in the top five.

Braimah said his goal is to beat the University of Northern Iowa.

“I want to whoop UNI’s ass; they get a little too cocky,” he said.

“They think they are the kings of Iowa and what not. We need to let them know that Iowa State is still here.”

The relay team will have their first race Saturday at 8:15 p.m., and Stanfield said he’s happy it’s the last race.

“It is fun to run with this group of people,” Stanfield said.

“It’s the last race on the track and you have to end good. So the best race to go out is to have a fast race.”

Graham will be kept busy running the anchor leg of the relay, as well as running the open 400.

“I know what to expect, but this will be my first time at regionals in the 400,” Graham said.

Graham set a personal record of 46.7 seconds in the 400 this year and will run Friday at 5:45 p.m.

Rotich is another athlete who will be performing double duty with his 800-meter run Saturday at 6:45 p.m. followed by the relay race.

“If I make finals in both, I’m not sure I will compete in both,” Rotich said.

“I’m not sure how much time we have between the 800 and the 4×400. But if there is not enough time in between, I will just do the 800. But hopefully I can do both.”

Lynn said Rotich has knocked nearly two seconds off his personal record in the relay.

“He needs to run faster than his personal record,” Lynn said. “Somebody will run 1:47 and not make it out of the regional meet; that is how strong it is.”

Rotich had his personal best time in the 800 with a time of 2:29 at the Mount Sac meet in California, and he said he can run fast enough to have a decent time.

“It’s very competitive, and I feel like I’m prepared and have a good shot of making nationals,” Rotich said.