Track returns to Auburn

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. - The Middle Tennessee track and field team will return Auburn, Ala., this weekend to take part in the 2011 War Eagle Invitational at Hutsell-Rosen Track.

The War Eagle Invitational looks to be an incredibly competitive meet for the Blue Raiders with five Nationally-ranked men's teams present including Auburn, FSU, Ole Miss, Georgia and South Carolina, and five women's top-25 squads, Auburn, FSU, Georgia, Southern Illinois and Penn State, as well.

With over 20 schools at the meet, the War Eagle Invitational will provide Middle Tennessee athletes a chance to try to sure up spots within the Sun Belt ranks as well as the NCAA Preliminary Round. The top 48 athletes in each individual event in the East Region automatically are selected to compete in the Preliminary Round.

This weekend's meet will also be one of the largest meets of the season leading up to the Sun Belt Championships May in Murfreesboro.

The Blue Raiders competed at the War Eagle Invitational in 2009. Festus Chemaoi highlighted the weekend by breaking the program 800 meter record. Chemaoi's time of 1:49.48 was the fastest in 40 years, just edging Jerry Singleton's time 1:49.49 recorded in 1969.

"We had a good meet at Tennessee State last weekend," head coach Dean Hayes said. "This will be a very competitive meet. We are not going to try to overload the athletes too much, so hopefully they can get some good performances that will help for seeding in the Sun Belt and qualifying for the NCAAs."

Post-meet coverage and results will be available on GoBlueRaiders.com.

Follow the Blue Raiders on Twitter @MTAthletics for continued updates.