Cougars Split Squads for Weekend Competition

PROVO -- The No. 23 BYU men's and No. 19 women's track teams will be splitting their squads and traveling across the United States this week as competition heats up on the track.

The majority of the No. 23 BYU men's squad will travel to Colorado Springs, Colo. to get a look at the rest of the conference in the Air Force Invitational.

"This is our biggest competition of the year to this point by far," BYU men's head coach Mark Robison said. "The Air Force meet will give us a chance to go up against just about everybody in the conference."

The BYU men's distance runners will travel to Minneapolis, Minn. to go up against top competition at the Minnesota Gold Country Classic.

"The Minnesota race will be one of two indoor meets where the distance runners will compete at sea level," Robison said. "We are hoping to get a few people qualified for nationals at the two meets this weekend."

As for the No. 19 BYU women, the team will split between the Illinois Invitational in Champaign, Ill. and the Wilson Motor Open in Logan, Utah.

"This is going to be a great weekend and I expect that we will do very well," BYU women's head coach Craig Poole said. "We are well rested and we are going to improve on our position in the power rankings this weekend."