Parts of the ISU track and field teams will be hundreds of miles away from each other at this weekend’s meets.

Four jumpers and four runners from the women’s track and field team will travel to Waco, Texas, this weekend for the Michael Johnson Invitational, but others will go to Cedar Falls for the UNI Open.

Those making the trip to Baylor are long jumpers Jummy Alowonle, Davonna Carr and Priya Hoze; high jumper Leigh Wagner; and runners Ada Anderson, Sara Boisen, Sheba Clarke and Rebecca Williams.

Women’s head coach Dick Lee said some of the top sprinters in the world will be at the meet in Waco.

Texas, Baylor and Oklahoma will provide heavy Big 12 competition for the runners.

“And Abilene Christian is one of the top Division II programs in the country,” Lee said.

Lee expects the four runners who make up the women’s 1,600-meter relay team to qualify for regionals in late May.

Williams will begin the relay, followed by Boisen, Clarke and anchor Anderson.

Sprints coach Scott Roberts said this is an especially big meet for the sprinters.

“The entire Texas sprint team is [unbelievable],” Roberts said. “Sanya Richards is one of the top sprinters in the world, and Raasin McIntosh is one of the top hurdlers in the world.”

Roberts said Williams has already qualified in the 100-meter hurdles, and he expects a qualifying time in the 100-meter dash from Clarke, who has been close in past meets.

Clarke said this will be her most competitive meet this year, and she believes it will be her opportunity to run well.

“I don’t feel like I’ve really had the chance to run [that race well.] Now I do,” she said.

Roberts is also excited to see how Boisen, a freshman, performs.

“Boisen is the baby in the group but is certainly a competitor,” Roberts said. “It will be good to get her experience in a big meet.”

Lee will send his other women to Northern Iowa to help them gain experience.

“The kids that won’t make it to Drake Relays will use the UNI meet for developmental purposes and to prepare for future meets,” he said.

Men’s head coach Steve Lynn said the meet in Cedar Falls is definitely low key but will be helpful for those who wish to build confidence.

“We’ve got some kids who’ve hardly had a chance to compete outdoors,” Lynn said. “Hopefully, the weather is decent. Not everybody will be doing everything, [such as] Tony Douglas and Daniel Kaczmarczyk. One will long jump, one will triple jump, but neither will do both.

“I’m really anxious to see how the 400-meter hurdles go if the weather is good. Ryan Boyington has already qualified for regionals, but I think Justin Sherman could [also].”

Men’s distance coach Corey Ihmels considers Dan Taylor, Dan Wiltgen and Corey Ylinen to be capable of qualifying in the 1,500-meter run.

Taylor looks at the UNI Open as a good momentum-builder for Drake Relays and the conference meet.

“For the 1,500-meter guys — Dan Wiltgen, Corey Ylinen and I — it’s a bigger meet because we really need to run fast with Minnesota, Iowa and of course, UNI being there,” Taylor said.

Wiltgen’s main goal is to keep improving, and he isn’t as worried about qualifying.

He credits Taylor and Ylinen for his steady improvement.

“Those guys are great,” Wiltgen said. “They always have a good attitude, and when it’s a workout day, it’s business.”

Ihmels also has Abraham Rotich in the 1,500-meter run and both Ryan French and Kyle Rasmussen in the 3,000-meter steeplechase.

“Rotich is primarily an 800-meter runner, so we’ll see how that goes,” Ihmels said. “It takes a certain type of guy to [compete in the steeplechase]. Hopefully, we have some good competition this weekend.”