This weekend marks the start of the indoor track and field season for The University of Memphis men’s and women’s teams as both travel to Jonesboro, Ark., to compete in a season-opening meet at Arkansas State.
According to men’s head coach Glenn Hays and women’s head coach Brenda Cash, both teams are ready to jump into the indoor season.
Cash said her team is regaining its speed and conditioning after training since the holiday break.
“We are looking excellent,” Cash said. “I’m pleased with the training after the team returned from Christmas break. They are still trying to recover.”
Hays said the men’s team has a firm foundation to win, returning most of a team that finished just one point away from the outdoor Conference USA Championship last season.
“We are pretty good this season,” Hays said. “We are missing two conference champions, but we are still solid.”
According to Cash, the women’s team is looking forward to the tough competition this weekend and future competition within C-USA.
“This year I have to pay added attention to our conference because of the two newcomers, TCU and East Carolina,” Cash said. “But two teams that stand out in conference are Houston and Tulane.”
Cash said the team must remain determined and become a cohesive unit to have a successful season.
“To be successful, we have to remain competitive all season,” she said. “Everyone is going to contribute and play an important role on the team.”
Meanwhile, the men are looking at their early-season schedule as a proving ground for the conference championship.
“The meets before conference championships are a lead up,” Hays said. “It’s all about how you do in the conference championships. That is the test to see how well we have done.”
Hays said C-USA newcomer TCU should present a strong challenge during the conference season.
“TCU is strong and a formidable opponent,” Hays said. “They always finish at the top, and their team is always high quality.”
Hays said with standouts such as Delvit Rogers in the long jump and triple jump, Adam Martin in the shot put, Kris Harmon in hurdles and sprinting and Franck Dradhiou in sprinting, the team will have a season to remember.
“With the athletes we have, we will have a great season,” he said.
This weekend’s indoor meet will take place Friday through Sunday on the ASU campus.
