In a sport heavily guided by individual performances, the ISU women’s track and field athletes enter the Big 12 Indoor Championship with a team-first mentality.

The mentality is one the team will use in an attempt to carve through a conference that has witnessed Iowa State finish in the top four three years in a row, making noticeable improvements after finishing ninth or worse in six of eight years prior to the 2012 season.

This year’s squad has been led by a number of ISU athletes who will be taking the track for one final indoor home meet.

Redshirt senior Katy Moen is one member of the team who will be making her final appearance on the Harry Hoak Track at Lied Recreation Athletic Center.

“I hope to take away as many teams’ points as I can get to help the team out, and basically just get competitive with the races,” Moen said. “It should be a really fun environment. There are a lot of good girls who will be in the races from the conference. ”

As one of the more experienced athletes on the team who has been a key part of the growth that Iowa State has experienced in recent years, Moen said last year stands out above the rest as far as memories.

“Seeing Sam [Bluske] win the [5000-meter] was such a great moment for me and being able to hug her at the finish line was really cool,” Moen said. “That’s probably my favorite moment and coach [Martin] Smith gave a really great speech afterward last year.”

Moen will compete in both the 3000-meter and 5000-meter at the conference meet. As the first one out of qualifying for the national indoor meet in the 3000-meter, Moen will attempt to improve her 9:12.78 time in the event from the Iowa State Classic on Feb. 14.

As the seniors bid farewell to their final home indoor meet, the youth and future of the ISU women’s track and field team begins to make its transition as the replacements.

A key member of the team’s future core is redshirt freshman Erin Hooker, who will be joining Moen in the 5000-meter.

“I definitely hope to score for my team in the 5K, and I would like to improve from my performance from Big 12s cross country,” Hooker said.

Runners have been focused on resting and staying healthy throughout the week leading up to the Big 12 Indoor Championship.

The meet will feature events all day both Feb. 27 and 28. Events are scheduled to begin at 10 a.m. Feb. 27 and 11 a.m. Feb. 28. The championships will end with the 4×400 meter relay, followed by the awards ceremony at 6 p.m. on day two.