Indiana Invitational is warm-up for things to come

The women's indoor track team defeated nationally ranked Ohio State in its last meet, but no ranked teams will make the trip to the 27th annual Indiana Invitational.\nAthletes from seven different states will fill the Harry Gladstein Fieldhouse, with the women's shot put kicking off the festivities 4 p.m. Friday. Saturday, the competition will resume at noon with the men's weight throw, unless the meet is ahead of schedule.\nJoining IU in the 15-team women's meet are Middle Tennessee State, Illinois, Tennessee-Chatanooga, University of Louisville, Cincinnati, E. Illinois, Troy State, Vanderbilt, E. Kentucky, W. Kentucky, Indiana State, Alabama-Birmingham, Murray State and S.E. Missouri State.\nAlthough the invitational will be unscored, the Hoosiers plan to burn up the track and use this as a tune-up for the Big Ten Championships, which are looming in the future.\n"From this Friday, we will be only three weeks away from the Indoor Big Ten Championship," coach Randy Heisler said. "We're really switching gears and will be looking for our athletes to step up to the challenges ahead of them."\nIU's sprint corps has dominated this season, claiming first in the 60-meter, 200-meter and 400-meter races in both Big Ten dual meets. \nBoth senior Lorraine Dunlop and sophomore Rachelle Boone provisionally qualified for the NCAAs in the 60-meter race against Ohio State. Sophomore Danielle Carruthers also qualified in the 60-meter hurdles.\nJunior Tia Trent barely missed qualifying by 0.35 seconds in the 400-meter race in her win against Ohio State, so she'll be a top runner for meeting the qualification times this weekend. But the jumpers are still yearning for their own qualifications.\nJumps coach Wayne Pate said this could be the meet at which his jump squad bounds into the spotlight, especially because the Hoosiers have the second-, third- and fourth-seeded long jumpers.\n"I hope we qualify provisionally nationally," Pate said. "They're ready to do that, physically and technically. We were still working to get some kinks out, but we've shortened our approach from two weeks ago. Now we're trying to iron that out, so we feel more comfortable with it."\nSophomore Rose Richmond said she wants a qualification for the NCAAs as much as anyone, and she feels this will be the perfect meet because of her performance in last year's Indiana Invitational.\n"I want to qualify for nationals this weekend," Richmond said. "My parents will be here from Florida. Last year at this time they came, and I didn't do too hot. I know I can do it as long as I get on the board, but I can't scratch and I can't foul"