The UA track and field team will split its squad this weekend as the Wildcats head to California and Iowa.

Arizona will send its throwers to San Diego to compete in the UCSD Triton Invitational, while the remainder of the team will head to Des Moines, Iowa to participate in the 94th annual Drake Relays.

"We wanted to put them (the throwers) in a situation where it was going to be conducive for them to throw," head coach Fred Harvey said. "In Iowa, you're looking at possible rain, possible snow, which is not good throwing weather. They're going where there is great weather and great throwing situations."

The Wildcats will be led by shotput specialist Sean Shields. The sophomore will be looking to continue his torrid pace against the stiff competition of UCSD and San Diego State. The goal for the Wildcats this weekend will be to improve upon their earlier marks in preparation for the postseason.

"Our number one goal there is to accumulate more qualifying marks and to also improve on those we already have," Harvey said. "We're looking for some superior marks out of them."

The Drake Relays are one of the oldest running carnivals in the

country. Started in 1910 during a snowstorm, the Drake Relays featured just as many spectators as it had athletes, around 100 each. The Drake University meet has turned into an annual event drawing, upward of 6,000 people and the finest athletes from around the United States.

The Wildcat lineup in Des Moines will feature the balance of the squad, including 17 athletes from the No. 9 ranked men's squad that rank in the top four in the nation in their respective events.

The No. 13 women's squad will get a boost on Saturday when top pole-vaulter Amy Linnen rejoins the lineup. Linnen, considered one of the best pole-vaulters in the nation, has been hampered by a foot injury that has kept the junior out of the lineup since February. She returns to a strong supporting cast that has excelled during her absence. Connie Jerz has led the way for UA, winning her first two meets as a Wildcat.

"We are looking for her to get on track and see what she can do in her first competition out," Harvey said of his star Linnen.

The women's 4 x 400 relay squad will have a new look this weekend. Joining the squad will be Coco Sanford, formerly of the women's basketball squad. The multi-sport athlete averaged 1.3 points in a little over six minutes per game for the Wildcats this season.

Harvey said the competition his teams will face this weekend will help in the long run.

"It is a competition where you get the best people throughout the country coming out to compete," said Harvey of his 16th straight visit to the Drake Relays. "It's a week-long festival, you get here and the atmosphere is so conducive. They love Arizona out here. They love seeing us out here. We come here to enjoy the event."

Arizona will take on teams such as Minnesota ÷ No. 8 men, No. 10 women ÷ and Georgia ÷ No. 20 men, No. 11 women.

"We are coming here to see about running better times and really kind of solidifying not only regional marks but get really high up on that NCAA list," Harvey said.