IU looks to hurdle big meets at PSU

The IU men's track and field team heads into the weekend traveling to Penn State for its biggest meet of the season thus far. The two-day meet features Penn State and IU, which are both ranked in the top ten in the country. It also has several other Big Ten opponents and some of the top teams from the East. The level of competition combined with the banked turns of the Penn State track should lead to extremely fast times with several being of the NCAA qualifying caliber.\nAmong the Hoosiers trying to run extremely fast times is sophomore Ryan Sarbinoff. Sarbinoff runs both the 200- and 400-meter sprints and is a member of the 1600-meter relay. He has been getting closer and closer to a provisional as the season has progressed.\nSarbinoff believes the banked track will be a great deal quicker.\n"It will be a lot faster," he said. "It will allow us to run faster and hopefully run a national qualifying time."\nThe competition at this meet will require the team to perform that much better as well. Runners said competition is even more important than the track. \n"The banked track should give us a good drop (in times)," Coach Marshall Goss said. "I think the competition will be more of a difference. \nThis meet will also give the Hoosiers an idea of where they stand amongst many of their Big Ten opponents before the Big Ten Championships in a couple of weeks. With Illinois, Michigan, Michigan State and Penn State it will be a wonderful opportunity. \n"With the amount of Big Ten teams there it will give us an idea of where we are," Sarbinoff said. "With everyone tapered and rested, everybody should have good performances."\nJuniors Bart Phariss and Chad Andrews will not be traveling with the team to Pennsylvania. They will be headed back up to Indianapolis this weekend for a meet, which has put together a strong 5000-meter field. Phariss will attempt to improve on his provisional time, while Andrews hopes to earn one this weekend.\nFreshman Stephen Haas will not be traveling with the team either this weekend. He is one of a few individuals that will attempt to qualify to represent the U.S. at the Junior World Cross Country Championships. He will race this Sunday in Washington, D.C. If he finishes in the top six, he will be able to travel to Dublin, Ireland to compete later this month in the championships.\n"I would be happy to just make the event because the (qualifying) race to make it is stacked," Haas said.