By
Francisco Merced
Arizona Daily Wildcat
Following a week of intense practices, the UA track and field teams will split to compete in separate meets this weekend. The track portion of the team will take part in the Cannon IV Invitational hosted by Butler University today and tomorrow.
The event - which is being held in Indianapolis - is considered one of the top sites for indoor track annually gathering elite competition.
While the runners take stride in Indiana, the field event athletes go to Flagstaff for the Flagstaff Invitational, hosted by Northern Arizona University.
One of the most anticipated events will be the debut of the 4x400m men's relay team.
"We want to put out a time that hopefully places us in the top five in the country," sophomore Matt Lea said.
Lea is expecting a lot out of himself and his teammates as they run in one of the premier indoor tracks in the nation - the National Institute for Fitness and Sport.
"I think our expectations are a lot higher," Lea said. "It's one of the best tracks in the country."
Also seeking to make a national mark will be junior Brianna Glenn.
In her first meet, the junior qualified provisionally in both the 60 and 200-meter dash.
"(This will be) the first meet I'm going to have some real competition," Glenn said. "I'm real excited and ready to do really well.
"The goal is to get an auto qualifier so I don't have to worry about it the rest of the year."
While the runners start competition today, the jumpers won't compete until tomorrow.
Senior pole vaulter Andrea Dutoit said returning to action should be good for the entire UA team.
"After a week off and going back to basics we'll be fresh for this meet," Dutoit said. "I think that (freshman) Amy (Linnen) is going to jump really high, and I'm real excited for her to do that."
Lea agreed.
"If we go out and have a good time and do what we do in practice, then everything will fall into place."
