Team looks to step up play for invitational

IU women's track and field coach Randy Heisler said that he expects his entire team to step it up a notch this weekend when the No. 8 Hoosiers host the Indiana Invitational.\n"We need everyone to come together," he said. "Everyone in every event needs to do what they're supposed to do."\nHeisler said that this meet is particularly important because it is a "practice run" for the Big Ten Championship meet. With 700-800 athletes from 25 teams inside the Gladstein Fieldhouse, the atmosphere will be similar to the loud, somewhat hectic atmosphere of the Big Ten meet. The Indiana Invitational begins at 4 p.m. Friday and noon Saturday. \nThough not completely satisfied with his team's overall performance thus far, Heisler said that he is pleased that the team seems to be getting closer to realizing its full potential. \n"We're getting there," he said. \nLast weekend the team turned in several impressive performances, including a personal record and first place finish from thrower senior Kelley McKinney in the weight throw, an automatic NCAA Championship qualifying time from senior Danielle Carruthers in the 60-meter hurdles and two first place finishes from senior Rachelle Boone in the 60 and 200 meter dashes. \n"The team's very solid actually across the board," said Heisler. \nBoone also said she thinks that the team is coming together and is especially encouraged by the performances of some of the freshmen runners. \n"They're really running well for freshmen," Boone said. \nAreas Heisler said he is still looking for improvement from the 600 and 800-meter runs. He said that he has placed eight or nine runners in those two events, and he expects at least two or three to step up to the Big Ten level.\nJunior Jennifer Cobbina, who finished first in the long jump at last weekend's meet, said that she's jumping farther than she was at this point last year so she is on track for achieving her goal of a 6.0 meter jump. Last weekend Cobbina jumped 5.7m and her furthest jump in competition thus far in the season has been 5.73m in the season-opener. \nCobbina said that not having to travel to the meet this weekend will make a difference in the way the Hoosiers will compete.\nWhen the team is on the road "it's hard to P.R. (personal record)," Cobbina said. "I'm looking forward to this weekend because it's a home meet."\nTwenty-five teams will be present at the meet, including Purdue, Indiana State and the University of Indianapolis.