TAT: Coaches Prepare for Indoor Championship

This article originally appeared online on March 8, 2013 on The Arkansas Traveler website (uatrav.com).

Arkansas’ men’s and women’s track and field teams, ranked No. 1 and No. 3, respectively, are competing for the NCAA Indoor Track and Field National Championship this weekend in Fayetteville.

Despite both teams coming off of Southeastern Conference Championships, this meet is set up differently and several teams have a shot to win the title, said Lance Harter, UA women’s track and field coach.

Instead of having 27 athletes in each event, teams are limited to only those athletes that qualify as the top 16 in the country in each event.

Texas A&M head coach Pat Henry also recognizes the complexity of this track meet.

“We could have a great meet and not win,” Henry said. “We could have everyone set a personal best and not win this track meet. This is a different meet than other ones you go to all year.”

Unlike other sports, in track and field, teams cannot influence other teams. They can only control themselves, a concept Florida head coach Mike Holloway understands well.

“We have to take care of Florida,” Holloway said. “(Arkansas) has done a great job of assembling a great team, but I have to worry about Florida. We have to maximize our potential in the events we’re in.”

The level of competition this weekend will also be higher than most teams are accustomed to.

These athletes are not only successful at the college level, but at the international level, as well. Harter said there are a “staggering” amount of Olympians competing.

Coming into the meet, LSU head coach Dennis Shaver’s strategy is for his athletes to just continue what they have done all season.

“If you can perform at the same level that you achieved over the regular season, you’re going to have a great chance,” Shaver said. “The team that has the best two days as a team will come out on top.”

The Razorback will be competing with athletes from schools all over the country, including No. 2 Florida, No. 3 Texas A&M, No. 4 Wisconsin, No. 5 Oregon and No. 6 Florida State on the men’s side.

On the women’s side, Arkansas’ biggest challengers will be No. 1 LSU, No. 2 Kansas, No. 4 Oregon, No. 5 Texas A&M and No. 6 Clemson, among others.

The NCAA Indoor Track and Field National Championship begins 10 a.m. Friday with the heptathlon. Field events begin at 12:30 p.m. and track events start at 5:30 p.m.