CHRIS CODUTO/Arizona Daily Wildcat Sophomore Erin Dudugjian lands a long jump earlier this season. Dudugjian and the Wildcat track and field squads will be in action this weekend in California.

Wildcats among 6,000 competitors at weekend meet

The UA track and field squad will return to southern California this weekend with postseason aspirations in mind.

Walnut, Calif. will be the site this week for the 45th running of the Mt. SAC relays, pitting Arizona against some of the best athletes in the world.

The Wildcats will send full men and women's squads to the three-day meet, beginning today, to compete against an estimated 6,000 collegiate, international and Olympic athletes.

"We're expecting a big meet from everyone," head coach Fred Harvey said. "A number of our athletes have been doing well in practice, this weekend we're looking to light it up."

Heading into the weekend, Harvey's men's squad was nationally ranked at No. 9 while the women came in at No. 12, according to the most recent UASTF power rankings.

"Any time you have a team in the top 10 in any sport, whether it is basketball or track and field, you are doing something special," Harvey said.

The track in Walnut is conducive to distance runners, an asset that Harvey feels can only benefit his squad.

"I like our chances," added Harvey. "A lot of people are ready to turn it on."

According to Harvey, the Wildcats have had a wealth of success in past Mt. SAC meets. A runner-friendly track combined with the high level of competition makes this week's meet one that distance runners gear their season toward.

Among those athletes expected to excel this week in Walnut is Seynabou Ndiaye. The senior from Dakar, Senegal has been a staple in the Wildcat lineup, running in the 100 and 200-meter dashes.

"I see her (Ndiaye) doing some special things this week," Harvey said of one of his team's key

leaders. "She has great opportunities in the 100 and 200."

Sharifa Jones will be looking to improve upon her NCAA qualifying time this week running in the 400-meter hurdles. The multi-talented sophomore competes in the several different events for the Wildcats including the long jump and 4 by 100-meter relay squad.

Leading the pack on the field for the women will be Connie Jerz. Jerz, in her first year with Arizona, is currently ranked No. 1 in the nation among all women pole-vaulters, a spot usually held by her Wildcat teammate Amy Linnen. Linnen, a junior, is nursing an injury to her foot that has kept her out of action for several weeks now.

For the men, Sean Shields will look to capitalize on his success this past weekend in Mesa, where the sophomore shotput himself to a first place finish and new season's best mark. Shields, currently ranked No. 4 in the nation in the event, set that mark with a toss of 63 feet.

If the health of his squad remains strong, first-year head coach Harvey feels his Wildcats should continue to excel.

"We are as healthy now as we have been all season," Harvey said. "We're seeking a tremendous number of qualifiers this week, and looking to building on that momentum heading into next month."

The Pac-10 and NCAA outdoor championships are set to take place in mid to late May.