The women's track and field team will gear up for the Mid-American Conference Indoor Championship with a home meet Friday against the Western Michigan Broncos and the Miami RedHawks.
This is the final indoor meet before the MAC Championship in Kent, Ohio.
This meet is the first home meet since the beginning of the season, when the Cardinals hosted the Ball State Open. Since then the team has been on the road and the home meet this week will give the team a rest.
"We have had some long weekends these past couple of weeks," Coach Sue Parks said. "We are coming off a hard two-day meet down in Indianapolis and it would be good for the team to be at home for some rest."
The Cardinals' main goal for this meet is to get ready for the upcoming MAC Championship.
"We are using this meet as a preparation for next week. We won't load up the events like we normally do so we can give some people some rest," Coach Parks said. "There is a chance that we won't finish first in our home meet."
The Cardinals have faced Western Michigan previously in the season. The two teams met at Notre Dame during the season's third week.
At the Notre Dame Triangular the Cardinals finished second, well ahead of Western Michigan.
"Western Michigan has shown a little improvement since Notre Dame," says Coach Parks. "We will have to look out for Miami though. I think that Miami is actually better than Western Michigan."
With the MAC championships quickly arriving, Coach Parks is looking to rest a couple of her key athletes.
One in particular is Patricia Soman. Soman was named MAC track and field athlete of the week for the third time this season. She also received honors as the MAC scholar athlete of the week.
"It is amazing what Patricia has been able to do this season," Coach Parks said. "We plan on holding her out of some events, but she will still jump on Friday."
As Soman racks up the individual accolades, the Cardinals climb the national rankings.
The team currently sits at No. 13 in the nation thanks to the performances of Soman, Natasha Lothery and other individuals on the team.
Read More
Three Air Jam teams take home the win
October 12, 2012Nineteen teams shimmied, shook and flipped for a sold out John R. Emens Auditorium on Thursday night during the 25th annual Air Jam.
Bill Clinton Speaks at North Central High School
October 12, 2012Former President's Speech Could Have Effect on State Senate Race
