The ISU track team will send members across the country this weekend to three different meets in an attempt to see some different competition.

The men’s team will split up, with the throwers and jumpers going to the Tom Botts Invitational in Colombia, Mo. while the sprinters and distance runners head to California to compete in two other meets, the Pomona-Pitzer Track and Field Invitational and the Mount Sac Relays.

The women’s team is sending its entire team to the Tom Botts Invitational.

Men’s coach Steve Lynn said he expects the Tom Botts Invitational to be a competitive meet for the throwers.

“There will be good throwers at the meet in Missouri,” Lynn said. “With the strong throwers there, it will almost be a preview of the regional meet.”

Throws coach Dan O’Mara said he expects the meet to be especially tough in the hammer throw. O’Mara said Iowa, Kansas and Missouri will be at the meet, and all three schools have great hammer throwers.

He also said he expects some of the toughest competition of the season for the three discus throwers.

Lynn said at least eight or nine of the throwers who will be in Missouri have already qualified for the regional meet. ISU throwers will probably not be participating the shot put because of wrist injuries that have not fully healed.

The men’s distance runners will be competing at the Mount Sac Relays, and Lynn said he expects big things from his squad.

“I think that many of them could get season or even career highs this weekend,” Lynn said.

The men’s sprinters will mostly be competing at Pomona-Pitzer, but there will be some sprint events, such as the 4×400-meter relay, held at the Mount Sac Relays.

The team has also been battling injuries. Two jumpers are sitting out this weekend’s meet with leg injuries. Lynn said he hopes that they will be back soon, perhaps in time to compete in the next meet.

Several athletes from the women’s team have already qualified for regional competition, including Agata Kosuda in the long jump, Leigh Wagner in the high jump, Ada Anderson in the 800-meter run and Rebecca Williams in the 100-meter hurdles.

Williams and Sara Boisen are coming off of victories in their respective events at the Brutus Hamilton Invitational last weekend.

Women’s sprints coach Scott Roberts said it is a goal of his for Boisen to get regionally qualified in her event.

All three events begin Friday. The Tom Botts Invitational continues competition Saturday with some events.