As the indoor season winds down and it anticipates its outdoor season ahead, the ISU men’s track and field team is attempting to grab a high ranking while enjoying home-track advantage at the Big 12 Indoor Championships this weekend. 

This season will be the fourth consecutive year Iowa State hosts the Big 12 Indoor Championships.

“It’s definitely a plus for us,” said sprinter and hurdler Derek Jones. “We have a 300-meter track, which is better for guys like myself.”

Jones, a junior, is coming off a hamstring injury he sustained between Thanksgiving and Winter Break.  

“It was just a feeling I’ve never had before,” Jones said. “It was unfortunate circumstances that led to me straining it pretty bad and taking a long time to get fully recovered”. 

Despite the fact that Jones is not feeling fully conditioned because of his injury, he is still looking forward to setting the foundation for the spring season this weekend. 

For thrower Chris Celona, this weekend’s meet is especially exciting. After transferring to Iowa State from Pittsburgh this season, the sophomore will compete in his first-ever Big 12 Championship. 

“It’s a good chance to have our team come together,” Celona said. “Hopefully everybody just puts their best performances together to help the team win.”

At the Big 12 Indoor Championships last year, the men’s track team finished in fifth place with 81 points, just .5 points ahead of Kansas with a score of 80.50.

“This is the first meet we are actually preparing for and not training through,” Celona said. “My body definitely feels like it’s in a good spot as opposed to those other meets.”

The Cyclones are looking to combine the home-track advantage, low-tempo practice week and positive mindset at the meet this weekend in hopes to set personal records and rack up team points.

The meet will begin on Friday at 10 a.m. and Saturday at 11 a.m. at the Lied Recreation Center.