The Cyclone track teams host the ISU Open today and Saturday after a strong showing last weekend in Minnesota. Four Cyclones earned first-place honors.

Dick Lee, women’s track coach, said the caliber of the competition should be very high.

Men’s head coach Steve Lynn agreed.

“The top junior college in the nation is going to be here,” Lynn said. “There are some outstanding athletes coming in.”

The Cyclones have some favorites as well. On the women’s side, All-American high-jumper Gina Curtis already has two wins under her belt.

“Gina Curtis has had an outstanding year already,” Lee said. “She’s making the most of her opportunities.”

Those opportunities include being healthy.

After three major knee injuries, Curtis is starting the indoor season with high expectations.

And what a start it’s been.

Curtis qualified for the NCAA Championships with a school record jump of 6’1-1/2″ at the ISU Holiday Classic.

Curtis still has her sights set on her season goal – to clear 6’3″.

“It’s kind of a lofty goal,” Curtis said. “You’re only going to be as competitive as you are with yourself.”

On the men’s side, Coach Lynn mentioned several athletes that have had promising starts to the season.

“Daniel Kaczmarczyk is certainly going to be a force in the long jump,” Lynn said.

Kaczmarczyk won the event in Iowa State’s first meet and Tony Douglas won the event last weekend for the Cyclones.

Lynn also has high hopes for high-jumpers Joey Brunkhorst and Andy Kohler, as well as shot put competitor Rocky Moore. The Brunkhorst-Kohler duo finished 1-2 last weekend in Minnesota.

Moore has finished first and third in the two meets, recording a personal best at both meets.

He said that his goal now is the same it’s been all season — to improve.

So far, it’s worked.