The ISU track teams have to work through illnesses and injuries, facing intense competition at the Big 12 Indoor Track and Field Championships this weekend at the University of Nebraska at Lincoln.

Both the men’s and women’s teams have battled injuries and illnesses throughout the indoor season, and some athletes will not return for the championships. Men’s coach Steve Lynn said several distance runners have been ill this season, which puts them behind the competition in the short indoor season.

“The team that gets lucky and has good things happen to them is the team that usually wins,” Lynn said. “We just have to hope that we are the ones that have a great meet this weekend.”

He said he is tentative about predicting the team’s chances this weekend.

“I don’t think we would be considered to be the favorite in any of the events we are competing in,” he said. “Daniel Kaczmarczyk is competing in his last meet. I expect him to do well in the long jump, but there is a kid from Texas Tech that can jump 26 feet, so I guess he would be considered the favorite.”

Junior Jared Graham has done well in this year in the 600-yard run, winning the event in the Iowa State Classic. Lynn said he will face his stiffest competition of the season this weekend.

“We have people who can do well in many events,” Lynn said. “I am not sure that we will win any events, but we have some people who can score some points and do well this weekend.”

Women’s coach Dick Lee said he is looking to the meet with certain goals for his team at the championships.

“It would be nice to see everybody shoot for season bests,” Lee said. “Some of our kids have a shot at career bests this weekend.”

Both coaches said they expect their athletes to score points in the meet.

“We have some people who can score points,” Lee said. “Of course, injuries will hurt our chances to score points. The injuries will affect our placement this weekend.”

Lee also said athletes who don’t compete this weekend will be back for the outdoor season, starting on March 26 at the ASU Invitational in Tempe, Ariz.

Lee said the competition this weekend will be among the toughest the team would face this season, but acknowledged he might have a favorite on his team.

“Ada [Anderson] is probably the favorite in the 800-meter, but I don’t think anyone else on our team could be considered the favorite,” Lee said. “There are a lot fewer teams than in the Iowa State Classic, but the caliber of competition is almost the same.”