IU gunning for NCAA qualifying marks

This weekend, the IU track team will travel its full contingent of athletes to Notre Dame for the Meyo Invitational. Aside from the Big Ten face-off against Purdue and Ohio State two weeks ago, the meet is IU's first true test. The Meyo Invitational is a focal point of the season for most teams in attendance as the meet consistently produces NCAA qualifying marks. IU must show more tenacity to get the job done, IU head coach Randy Heisler said.\n"Sometimes I feel like we lack a killer instinct," he said. "Sometimes, we're just too nice."\nThere is little room this weekend for weakness. Each event is stocked with marquee national talent. \nMeyo's signature event is the Invitational Mile. Each year, two or three athletes break the four-minute mile barrier for the first time. Last year, four athletes broke the barrier and 16th-place finished in 4:08, still an impressive mark. \nThis year's meet includes 2004's NCAA Indoor mile champion, IU junior Sean Jefferson. He will be joined in the race by his brother John, a 2003 NCAA Indoor mile runner up. Sean Jefferson holds a mile best of 4:00 while John has run 4:02. Sean Jefferson has recently posted a 10-second 3,000-meter personal best in a win against Ohio State and Purdue. Last weekend, John Jefferson blazed 2:58 for 1,200 meters, right on pace to break four minutes. \n"I felt like I could have run faster if I'd kicked at the end," Sean Jefferson said after his 3,000 win. "But it's better to save my legs for Notre Dame."\n"I felt good through the 1,200," John Jefferson said last weekend. "I don't know if I could've picked up the pace, but I know I could keep the same pace, and that's all I need."\nAnother Hoosier who seems primed for a breakout performance is sophomore All-American David Neville, who will run the 400-meter run. \n"Oh, definitely, I can't wait to run on an oversized track," Neville said. "It'll be a lot easier to maneuver around the turns."\nThe field events are equally solid. Recent improvements in Notre Dame's facility have turned it into not only a top-notch meet for track events, but for throwing and jumping as well. \nJunior All-American Aarik Wilson, an NCAA runner-up, is currently tied for the NCAA triple jump lead with a leap of 16.04 meters and will compete in both the triple jump and long jump.\nJunior Ryan Ketchum will be in action in the shot put, where he currently ranks fifth nationally. Junior Wil Fleming will compete in the weight throw, where he ranks 11th nationally.\n"Before Christmas break, I thought we'd have to redshirt Wil," Heisler said. "But he came back just throwing great, and it shows in his performance."\n-- Contact Staff Writer Rob DeWitte at rdewitte@indiana.edu.