Neither of Iowa State’s track coaches knows what will happen when the ISU men and women compete at Saturday’s Wisconsin Invitational.

“I don’t know what to expect,” women’s head coach Dick Lee said. “[The girls] will try to get over the Christmas cobwebs. Mainly, I am looking for a competitive race.”

Men’s head coach Steve Lynn said he isn’t sure what to expect after a lengthy break, either.

“We will absolutely see some rust since we have had a month away,” Lynn said. “[The team] should be OK since there has been a whole week of practice. But we have a long season ahead of us, so I don’t want us to be at peak performance yet.”

Lee doesn’t expect his team to be its best either.

“This is the first big meet for some of our kids,” Lee said. “We will find where some of the people are at. These early-season meets help us in training toward February. We will run faster in February.”

The Wisconsin Elite Invitational will be a stern test, with four other teams competing against the Cyclones. Illinois State, Indiana State, Northern Iowa and Wisconsin will bring both their men’s and women’s teams to Madison, Wis.

Lynn said there will be some disadvantages for his men’s team at the meet.

“This is our first big meet of the season,” Lynn said. “The other teams have had more meets and are more ready. Also, [the Wisconsin track] is smaller than what we are used to. We have to get used to the smaller tracks, which will be a major adjustment for us.”

Lynn said he is anxious to see how certain individuals perform at this meet.

“I am looking forward to watching Daniel Kaczmarczyk at the long jump, his first of the year,” Lynn said. “In the field events, I am anxious to see how the guys who had a good last meet perform at this one.”

Lee also said he wants to see how some of his athletes will handle their first meet, especially some of his younger competitors.

“Individually, Susan Sherman should have herself a good meet in the field events,” Lee said. “I am also looking forward to seeing our young girls triple jump. They are young kids and it will be a learning experience. I am also anxious to watch Rebecca Williams at the hurdles.”