The ISU track and field teams will split their squads again this weekend, sending 10 athletes from the women’s squad and three from the men’s squad to the Michael Johnson Invitational in Waco, Texas, and the rest of the team to the UNI Twilight in Cedar Falls.

This weekend is the last warm-up before the Drake Relays, one of the top track meets in the country.

Women’s coach Dick Lee said the athletes going to Waco have a good chance to reach regional qualifying marks.

Sophomore Leigh Wagner has qualified in the high jump and will be competing simply to keep her focus. Senior jumper Jummy Alowonle and junior jumpers April Fabert and Priya Hoze are on the road to qualify for regionals.

Other qualifiers traveling to the Michael Johnson Invitational are Ada Anderson and Rebecca Williams in the 800-meter run and the 100-meter hurdles, respectively. Sara Boisen, Lauren Lewis, Jenny Mockler and Meaghan Peoples round out the women traveling out of state this weekend.

For the men, high jumpers Ben Honig and Gil Ridenour will be competing in Waco with long jumper Oliver Koenig in what will be his first meet since the Big 12 Indoor Championships.

“I think all three have a chance to meet the NCAA regional mark down there,” men’s coach Steve Lynn said.

Lynn also said Koenig has a good chance to get a high mark, even though he is returning from an injury.

The men’s distance runners are training this weekend and will not compete.

The rest of the men’s team can accomplish some good things at the meet in Cedar Falls this weekend, Lynn said.

“It is a get-ready meet for Drake,” he said. “We are going to have some people run different races to prepare.”

Lee said the women’s team is going to use the Panther Classic to gain some additional experience, especially for the younger athletes. The Panther Classic is a low-key meet, and he said many of the athletes who will not compete in the Drake Relays will get a chance to compete this weekend.

Both coaches said they felt weather could be a factor this weekend, especially for their athletes in Cedar Falls, but hope the weather will hold up so the athletes can get one more meet under their belts. Both meets start on Saturday and run all day.