Weekend Preview: Coast-to-Coast Collegiate Competition

Who’s ready for another jam-packed weekend of collegiate track & field?

Trick question.

By our unofficial count, there are at least 45 collegiate track & field meets across the nation this weekend, which span each collegiate division from NCAA Division I to the NJCAA.

From the USTFCCCA InfoZone: Meets & Results | Records & Lists

When we say, “across the nation,” we mean ACROSS. THE. NATION.

The New England (NEICAAA) Indoor Championships begin today at the Reggie Lewis Track & Athletic Center in Boston, Massachusetts, as does the Weber State Invitational at the Stromberg Center Indoor Track Facility in Odgen, Utah.

Friday also marks the Texas A&M Charlie Thomas Invitational at the Gilliam Indoor Stadium in College Station, Texas, and the start of the North Dakota State Bison Open inside the Shelly Ellig Track & Field Complex in Fargo, North Dakota.

Don’t forget about The Sun Conference Indoor Championships at the Birmingham CrossPlex in Birmingham, Alabama, on Monday (Go with us here. We know we said Monday) or the WSU Invitational at The Podium in Spokane, Washington, either.

What about the Maine State Meet at the Harold Alfond Athletics and Recreation Center in Waterville, Maine, or the New Mexico Collegiate Classic at the Albuquerque Convention Center in Albuquerque, New Mexico, where perennial powers like Arkansas, LSU, Texas and more convene on Friday and Saturday for some star-studded competition?

You better believe we’ll see some all-time marks, too.

We did five years ago when the Women of Oregon took down an eight-year-old collegiate record in the distance medley relay at the Dr. Sander Columbia Challenge, which also happens to be this weekend inside the New Balance Track & Field Center at The Armory. The Ducks got the baton around in 10:48.77 to take the crown from Tennessee, which posted the previous best of 10:50.98 at the 2009 NCAA DI Indoor Championships. Raevyn Rogers, who eventually won The Bowerman that year, toted the stick third with a 2:03.53 split for 800 meters.

How many efforts will be added to the record book this weekend?

Only time (and distance) will tell.

We’ll recap all of the big moments for you on Saturday.