Track team to host Middle Tennessee Invitational

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. - The Middle Tennessee track and field teams return to action this weekend, as they will play host to the 2010 Middle Tennessee Classic at 10 a.m. Saturday at Murphy Center.

The Blue Raiders will host Sun Belt foes Western Kentucky and Arkansas State, as well as regional opponents Belmont, Arkansas-Pine Bluff, Eastern Kentucky, Tennessee State, Milligan and Samford.

The Blue Raiders enter the month of February focused on the Sun Belt Indoor Championships, also to be held at Murphy Center on February 27 and 28. To this point, the teams have been improving their performances in different events in order to prepare for the ultimate of goal of winning another title for Hall of Fame coach Dean Hayes. For the remaining two meets, athletes will compete primarily in the events they will run at the conference championships.

So far this season, Middle Tennessee has posted strong performances, especially on the women's side. Senior Brittany Cox is currently ranked in the top 10 in both the women's shot put and 20-pound weight throw. She is currently a provisional qualifier for the NCAA Indoor Championships. Junior Cherice Robertson and senior Zamzam Sangau have also earned provisional qualifiers in their respective events. Robertson ran 7.84 in the 55-meter hurdles qualifying her for the championships and Sangau finished with a time of 2:07.23 to earn her qualification in the 800 meters.

A handful of Blue Raider men are still looking for the marks that would qualify them for the NCAA Championships, including junior Festus Chemaoi in the 800 and mile run and sophomore Roscoe Payne in the 55-meter hurdles. Both have posted strong times in 2010 but have been unable to qualify.

Events will begin at 10 a.m. with the men's and women's weight throw and conclude at 3:40 p.m. with the men's and women's mile relay. Full results and coverage will be available on goblueraiders.com.

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