Injuries and illness took their toll on many members of the ISU track and field teams for the indoor season, but now those athletes are ready to participate outdoors.

Both the women and the men return at least four athletes for the outdoor season, which begins Saturday with the ASU Invitational in Tempe, Ariz. Other schools attending the meet along with host Arizona State include Air Force, Brigham Young and Kansas State.

The women’s squad will get a boost from the return of jumpers Jummy Alowonle and Agata Kosuda, hurdler Rebecca Williams and runner Jenny Mockler.

All four redshirted the indoor season because of nagging injuries and illness.

Mockler competed unattached in a few meets, but in February, just when her knee seemed to be feeling better, she got sick, ending her indoor season.

Williams, who holds the school record in the 100-meter hurdles and is a NCAA qualifier, injured her hamstring last spring and aggravated the injury again at the beginning of the indoor season.

Coach Dick Lee said he wasn’t about to let Williams compete unless she was healthy.

“With a sprinter or a jumper, unless you’re almost 100 percent, you’re going to be affected,” he said.

Chronic back problems have affected Kosuda. She holds the school record in both the indoor and outdoor triple jump and was a national qualifier last season.

“I’m excited to have all of them back,” Lee said. “It’s definitely a plus for the team.”

Because of the weather, the team has yet to get on an outdoor track, so he said this meet will serve as a learning experience.

The men’s team welcomes back long jumper Tony Douglas and high jumper Gil Ridenour.

Jamal Cann and Tony Stewart highlight the throwers, who add highly regarded freshman Chase Madison for the outdoor season.

Oliver Koenig is returning from a foot injury that sidelined him for the indoor season.

“We hope to have him back running,” said men’s coach Steve Lynn.

Throwers like Stewart have to change their throwing apparatus outdoors. Stewart, who threw career bests in the 35-pound weight throw during the indoor season, will now throw the hammer. The hammer is longer and much lighter at 16 pounds.

“I go faster, but it feels slower because it’s so long,” Stewart said. “My turns are tighter, and I have three for the indoor weight throw and four turns outdoors.”

Stewart has gone to the NCAA regional meet twice in the hammer. His personal best is just less than 187 feet, and he said he hopes to break Jamie Beyer’s school record of 192-10.