Rams hope to make this a ‘lovely’ weekend

This Saturday while sweethearts gaze tenderly into each other’s

eyes, CSU’s track athletes will prove their devotion to sports as

they compete in the Adidas Classic Invitational in Lincoln,

Neb.

The men and women enter the meet on a sizzling streak. The

undefeated men are ranked 11th nationally, the unblemished women

14th.

With the end of the indoor season rapidly approaching and the

conference championships two weeks away, the athletes look to post

conference qualifying times in this non-scoring meet.

“They only take a certain number of guys and girls,” junior Ryan

Lowen said. “It would be nice to post a good time at Nebraska.”

Lowen continues his resurgence from off-season knee surgery this

weekend. After competing in relays each of the last two weeks, he

will run his first individual 800-meter run.

A few distance runners will accompany head coach Del Hessel to

Iowa State on Friday to compete in the Iowa State University

Classic. Those distance runners will not compete in Nebraska, but

will run against the stellar competition in Iowa.

According to Hessel, the field in Nebraska should be tough. The

Husker men are ranked 10th and the women enter 3rd. This weekend is

the largest meet yet for the Rams, as 13 other schools will bring

athletes.

In addition to the solid competition, Nebraska boasts an

outstanding place to compete.

“I’m excited to go,” Lowen said. “It’s probably the best indoor

facility in the country.”

Freshman Rebekah Yetzer said that after coming up short last

weekend at the Air Force Classic she is excited to run in Lincoln

because “the track is really good and it’s at less elevation.”

Yetzer is among the many talented women looking to solidify

conference spots this weekend. She competes in two events, the mile

and the 1,000.

“I’m hoping to do better, to place better,” she said. “I’d like

to have a good race that I’m happy with.”

Instead of heart-shaped candy and bouquets of flowers the Rams

will spend their day of love in front of screaming fans and stiff

competition.