Billy Hayes Invitational attracts top talent

The men's track team will host its final track meet of the year Friday evening at the Robert C. Haugh track complex. The meet is named for Earle C. "Billy" Hayes, who served as IU's track and cross country coach from 1925 to 1943. The meet will boast abput 800 athletes competing within just a few hours. \n"There are a whole lot of people coming to town for this," IU Coach Randy Heisler said. "We've got some select people competing to try to meet regional qualifying marks. It's always a good meet for those competing."\nWith the Big Ten Championships looming one week away at Purdue, some of IU's top athletes will curtail their competition while others will hunt for qualifying marks or fight for spots at the Big Ten Championships. Junior All-American and NCAA triple jump leader Aarik Wilson will run only the 100-meters to work on speed and freshman All-American David Neville will likely run only the 200-meters and 4x400-meter relay. Freshman long jumper Kiwan Lawson, whose best jump is a scant two centimeters off the regional qualifying standard, will compete in hopes of improving his mark.\nIU received a bonus this week as it adds a pair of football players to the roster just in time for Big Tens.\n"We've got Herana-Daze Jones and Courtney Roby competing this weekend," said Heisler. "We're going to run them in the 100 and the 4x100-meter relay. Courtney ran indoors so he has some experience."\nWith good news comes bad, in the form of sophomore hammer thrower Wil Fleming, who had qualified for the NCAA regional meet. Fleming broke his foot in the weight room earlier this week, and is out indefinitely.\nSenior Mike Minton and junior Ryan Ketchum will compete in the shot put and discus events, in which both athletes rank in scoring position in the Big Ten and have qualified for the regional. Minton, a senior, expressed bittersweet sentiment about the coming weeks.\n"You know, the regional will probably be the last time I throw the shot," Minton said. "That's a strange feeling."\nAmong the athletes coming to town is former Missouri standout Derrick Peterson, the 2002 US 800-meter indoor champion. Peterson looks to tune up for the Olympic Trials against IU twins Rodney and Russell Hollis. \n"The 800 is going to be hot," Russell, a senior, said. "With Peterson and the Missouri guys in it I'll have a chance at getting the regional standard." \n"This is the week before Big Ten's," said Heisler. "We want to get the training right and get people sharp."\n-- Contact staff writer Rob DeWitte at rdewitte@indiana.edu.