Many members of the ISU track teams will see their first outdoor action of the year this weekend.

Although a few athletes competed at an earlier outdoor meet at Florida State, this weekend’s Clemson Invitational will be the first outdoor meet at which Iowa State is represented by full teams.

Warm temperatures are expected for the meet, a difference from the climate-controlled environments of the indoor track season that could put Iowa State at a disadvantage.

“I’m glad we got some heat this week so the guys had a chance to practice in it,” men’s coach Steve Lynn said. “It’s going to be good to get outside.”

After several weeks without any large meets, the teams may not be in top form.

“It’s like the early season again for us,” women’s coach Dick Lee said. “We don’t expect to be at the same level that we were at the end of the indoor season.”

Lynn said teams from the southern part of the country have had a head start on the outdoor schedule.

“It’s Clemson’s fourth or fifth meet outdoors, so we’re really far behind in that aspect,” Lynn said.

Other teams at the meet will include Appalachian State, Charlotte and East Carolina. Miami (Ohio) will bring a women’s team, but not the men’s.

The coaches both said their teams are excited to start the outdoor season.

“They all grew up with the outdoor season,” Lynn said.

The outdoor season also brings new events.

“For some of the kids, this is the first chance for them to compete in their primary event,” Lee said.

Outdoor-only events include the discus, the javelin, the 400-meter hurdles and the 3,000-meter steeplechase.

The men’s team will be bolstered by members who did not compete in the indoor season due to injury, including Daniel Kaczmarczyk, Matt Murdock, Jamal Salahuddin and James Lopes.

Lynn said Murdock, who broke his foot about a year ago, still has some soreness but is ready to compete.

The women’s team is not in such a favorable position.

“Our numbers keep dwindling this week as more and more people get sick,” Lee said.

He said that a bronchial infection has been going around the team.

Gina Rickert, who competed at the indoor national championships in the high jump, will be in action.

Susan Sherman, Iowa State’s other representative at the indoor national championships this year, is among those who have been feeling sick.

Lee said her status for the meet was not yet certain on Thursday morning, shortly before the team left.

Another difference between this meet and the indoor season is that team scores will be kept.

If his team can come away with a team victory, Lynn would be pleased.

“Clemson is always one of the top teams in the country,” he said.

Despite the meet being scored, Lee said he would not pressure his athletes to compete if they do not feel well.

“Our primary focus for them is just getting them healthy for the next couple weeks,” he said.