Team splits for pair of weekend track meets

Members of the IU track and field team will break up this weekend for a split-squad meet. Some competitors will take an eight-hour bus ride to the Drake Relays in Des Moines, Iowa, which runs today through Saturday.

The other half of the team makes the short 50-mile bus trip up State Road 37 to the campus of IU-Purdue University Indianapolis on Friday for the Stan Lyons Invitational.

IU coach Ron Helmer said the reason for splitting his team up is that some of his less-experienced athletes need a break from long trips.

“I’ve really taken a small group to (Iowa) because of all the travel lately,” Helmer said. “Our young kids need a week off, so we are taking a group to IUPUI as well.”

Senior thrower Paul Fearnow, who is making the trip to Des Moines, said it is a great place for an event.

“Drake is a nice place to throw,” Fearnow said. “It also has nice facilities, which makes for good competition.”