The mens and womens track and field teams will open the outdoor season tomorrow by hosting the only home meet of the season.Field events will begin at 2 p.m. at Bowers Stadium, followed by the running events at 5 p.m.Sam Houston will compete with teams from Texas A&M, Rice, Stephen F. Austin, Prairie View A&M and others.The Bearkats are looking to start a better season than last year, which ended in seventh and 10th place conference finishes for the men and women respectively. Coach Greg Hinze said every senior on the mens team was redshirted last season, which lost many possible points for the Bearkats. The men finished second in the conference in 1999, 1998 and 1997.I think the we should be in contention again this year, Hinze said.He also said this years womens team is the best he has ever had. The womens team placed fifth at the indoor championship a few weeks ago while the men finished seventh. The womens cross country team made school history last semester as the runner up in the conference meet.The Bearkats will regain the redshirted athletes this season, as well as add points in some of the teams stronger events that are only contested in outdoor track.We have quality people in almost every event. If I had to pin down our strong suit I would say javelin, jumps and sprints, Hinze said.The javelin, discus, sprint relay and other events are among those not designed for indoor track competition.Several athletes are injured and might not compete at tomorrows meet. We have a couple of injuries right now and we are nursing and taking care of them, Hinze said. This is our only home meet and I want to do well, but at the same time I dont want to risk somebodys season for the first meet of the year.Hinze said decisions will be made tomorrow as to whether some of the injured will compete.
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