Track Teams Head to Pocatello for Mountain States Classic

PROVO, Utah (February 1) - After tuning up in a number of meets in past weeks, both men's and women's track teams will send full squads to Pocatello this Friday and Saturday to compete in the Mountain States Classic on the campus of Idaho State University.

The meet will serve as the first major tuneup of the season for the Cougars, as they prepare for the prestigious Husker Invitational in Nebraska next week. Both coaches plan to have entries in nearly every event, giving athletes a chance to qualify for the NCAA Indoor Championships March 10-11 in Fayetteville, Arkansas.

"We will be sending a lot of people in virtually all areas," said women's coach Craig Poole. "This will be the first meet where we will compete with real intensity as a team. It's our last chance to prepare for Nebraska, our biggest meet of the regular season."

Men's coach Willard Hirschi is applying a similar philosophy with his team for this weekend. "Everyone's going this weekend. Half the university is going to be running for us. It will be a good test for us to see where we are and what kind of progress we are making," said Hirschi. Shot putter Jim Roberts, who was an indoor All-American for BYU in 1999, will not make the trip to Pocatello. Roberts recently decided to remain in Provo to attend classes and spend time on academic responsibilities.