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Five Wildcats compete in the NCAA Indoor Championships

With the track and field outdoor season beginning last week, five members from the Arizona men's and women's track team will wrap up the indoor season at the NCAA National Indoor Championships this weekend in Fayetteville, Ark.

Representing the UA will be seniors Jeff Dutoit, the lone representative for the men's team, and Carolyn Jackson, junior Andrea Neary, and sophomores Tara Chaplin and Brianna Glenn for the women's team.

With only five athletes qualifying for indoor championships, the Wildcats can only hope for individual honors.

"We don't have many people going to the meet," UA head coach Dave Murray said. "That is kind of what we expect, though, because we don't really stress indoors."

Making his fourth consecutive NCAA National Indoor Championships, Dutoit enters the championships ranked No. 12 in the pole vault, having qualified with a vault of 17 feet 8 1/2 inches.

The senior captain finished in third place during last year's indoor championships, with a vault of 18-2 1/2, which tied the school record.

Dutoit is using the indoor championships as a chance to prepare more for the outdoor season.

"I'll be looking to take the next step in getting ready for the outdoor season," said Dutoit. "NCAA is a good place to improve and gain experience against the top athletes."

On the women's side, Jackson will be vying for her fourth straight All-American honors in the 400-meters.

Jackson barely qualified for this year's championships, though, recording the 15th fastest time in the nation.

Her sprinting coach, Fred Harvey, however, is not worried about how Jackson will perform at the NCAA National Indoor Championships.

"She's confident and I expect her to do very well," said Harvey. "She's very serious about the meet and she should rise to the challenge."

Harvey also points out that Jackson has never been to an NCAA championship meet and not come away as an All-American.

Also trying to turn out a strong performance is Neary, who comes into the meet ranked No. 12 in the pole vault.

She is making her second straight appearance for the indoor meet and will try to top last year's finish of 14th, which came after she had come back from surgery following last year's outdoor track season.

"I want to go there and surprise some people," said Neary. "Last indoors I wasn't so prepared and I'm excited to be back on the national level."

Competing in her seventh NCAA championship meet, including cross-country NCAA champions, Chaplin will try and earn All-American status in the 5000 meter.

She enters as the top qualifier from the UA track and field team at No. 7. Chaplin qualified in the 5000 with a time of 16 minutes 51.56 seconds.

The only Wildcat athlete to compete in more than one event will be Glenn.

Glenn will be participating in both the long jump and 60 meter. Her ranks are 15th in the long jump and 10th in the 60 respectively.

The long jump, though, is the event Harvey believes Glenn can have the biggest impact in.

"She could be the surprise of the competition," said Harvey. "If something special should happen it could be in this event."

This will be Glenn's first major championship meet and she is not really sure what to expect.

"I'm a little nervous and excited," said Glenn. "I want to perform well, especially with all the top competition."