Hoosiers challenge nation's finest

As of April 9, the women's indoor track team is ranked sixth in the nation according to the Team Power Rankings. This weekend the Hoosiers will show their force at the Sea Ray Relays in Knoxville, Tenn.\nCoach Randy Heisler called the Sea Ray Relays the first quality meet of the year, and IU will have its hands full with some of the nation's toughest teams, Thursday through Saturday.\nThe Hoosiers are coming off a key victory against Midwest rivals Ball State, Cincinnati and Central Michigan.\nIU finished two athletes in the top five the last time it attended the University of Tennessee-sponsored meet six years ago. This time around, the Hoosiers expect better results. \n"Although we haven't been to the meet in five years, traditionally, it is a great meet that features great competition from various ACC and SEC schools," Heisler said. "We're going to back them off training wise, and just give everyone a chance to see where they're at right now."\nLast weekend, Heisler watched his athletes contribute several performances to the team effort, especially in distance events in which Ball State was supposed to be the favorite.\nJunior Stephanie Magley won the 800-meters and 1,500-meters. She said she never considered losing an option, and said she will continue this mentality will continue when she competes this weekend.\n"It gives me confidence that I won, but I did it for our team," Magley said. "It only proves to me that I was right all along and that we really are a better team than Ball State. Winning the meet was a stepping stone to winning the Big Tens and future competition will be looked upon in the same light."\nAlthough the talent at the Sea Ray Relays exceeds the level of competition the Hoosiers have experienced, athletes predict good performances.\nOne of the athletes making improvements is junior thrower Heather Colyer.\nLast weekend, she provisionally qualified for the NCAA outdoor track championships in the discus for the first time this season. Colyer has been practicing her new favorite event more now because the indoor season does not include the event, she said.\nBecaues her training partner, senior Jennifer Brown, is one of the best throwers in the nation, Colyer said she feels no pressure stepping up to the challenge for the relays.\n"It's no different than any other meet," Colyer said. "I've competed against Jenn in every meet so far, and she is one of the top contenders now. It's just like going out and competing against a bunch of Jenns"