IU prepares for Big Ten foes in Saturday's Hoosier Open

The Web site www.trackwire.com recently placed the Hoosiers fourth in the nation, but this weekend's Hoosier Open will measure the fitness of IU's athletes after the long semester break and if they can live up to that ranking. The men's track team has one more weekend to prepare for Big Ten rivals Ohio State and Purdue next weekend in Bloomington.\n"Indoor track is difficult because kids leave for break in great shape, but when they get back, you hope they've done the work and kept in shape," IU head coach Randy Heisler said. "You don't really know whether they have until the first few meets, and that's what this one is for."\nThe meet will also allow some of IU's marquee athletes to get in a relaxed, warm-up performance before the Big Ten schedule begins. Among those who will debut is junior All-American Aarik Wilson, who was recently projected by www.trackwire.com as the NCAA triple jump favorite. \n"Our goal this season has got to be to win, plain and simple," Heisler said. "We should be disappointed if we don't win Big Ten, and we've got a shot at NCAA, which is rare for a northern school. Aarik is obviously a big part of that."\nAnother of IU's prime threats, sophomore All-American David Neville, will likely compete this weekend in the 600-meters run for the second time ever, as well as in the 60-meters.\n"It will be my first time racing the 600 collegiately," said Neville, a double Big Ten Champion outdoors in 2004. "I think the 600 went pretty good for the first time last weekend. I know this time I will have to go out a little bit faster and try to finish the same."\nHoosier track followers will also be keeping an eye on redshirted freshman football player Marcus Thigpen.\n"In the sprints, Marcus has legitimate speed," Heisler said. "He ran fast in our team time trial a few weeks ago."\nSeveral Hoosier distance runners will debut this weekend, racing unattached.\n"We're going to run a few of the freshman unattached as a precaution," said IU distance coach Robert Chapman. "Then we'll make a decision as to whether they'll run in uniform against Ohio State and Purdue."\nIU's nationally recognized distance talent likely won't debut for another week. Junior All-Americans Sean and John Jefferson spent the semester break training in San Diego and have returned fresh and healthy. Juniors Stephen Haas and Eric Redman are also mostly healthy and excited for track. Senior steeplechaser Tom Burns has been dealing with a minor foot problem.\n-- Contact Staff Writer Rob \nDeWitte at rdewitte@indiana.edu.