It may seem like a battle of who can host more events, but the Frank Sevigne Husker Invitational is just another piece of the puzzle for the ISU women’s track and field team.

This piece is small and less detailed, but one that will lead to more important pieces in future weeks.

Lincoln will take the lead against Ames in events hosted, but an important thing for the Cyclones will be for some of their best athletes to get rest before competing in the Iowa State Classic on Feb. 13 to 14.

Senior Kendra White, ISU indoor record holder in the 400-meter, strained her quad and hip flexor a few weeks ago and hopes to use this upcoming event as an opportunity to get healthy.

White does expect to be ready to compete at the Iowa State Classic.

“I feel like the season is going well so far,” White said. “‘Progress’ is what I keep saying. I haven’t really had too much competition in my open [400-meter] yet but at the Classic, there should be a lot to hopefully get me down to a 53 and get that school record again.”

In addition to being one of the team’s top distance runners, redshirt senior Katy Moen joins White on this year’s distance medley relay team.

“I’ve been focusing on a little bit more of speed this indoor season, since I’m usually a distance gal. So the mile and the 3K I think will be my next focus on getting both of those to nationals,” Moen said.

Moen and White both competed for the team in the distance medley relay at the Razorback Team Invitational on Jan. 30. Moen said she felt the race went well and left her looking forward to competing in the event at future meets.

Joining Moen and White at the Razorback Invitational, graduate student Margaret Connelly competed in her first track race since her sophomore outdoor season.

“I was excited to get out there again,” Connelly said. “I think that there’s a lot left in me and I can run faster for sure, the way the race played out. I kind of got boxed in a little bit and I grew complacent in the middle of the race. I think I can push the envelope at the Classic.”

Some leaders of the track and field team will not be competing at the Frank Sevigne Husker Invitational as they hope to earn qualifying times for nationals the following week in Ames.

Despite missing some of the leaders, the team will have the opportunity to get some of its younger athletes experience.

The invitational is a two-day event, taking place Feb. 6 to 7 in Lincoln, Neb.