Hoosiers ready to host Regional

The 2005 NCAA Woman's Outdoor Tack and Field MidEast Regional will take place 3 p.m. Friday and noon Saturday at the Robert C. Haugh Tack and Field Complex. IU will host three of the top 25 teams in the nation including No. 5 University of Tennessee, No. 11 University of Alabama, and No. 21 University of Arkansas. \nAfter finishing eighth at the Big Ten meet two weeks ago in Columbus, Ohio, nine Hoosiers will represent IU this year. Among those nine are two Big Ten champions -- sophomores Stacey Clausing, who won the 200 meter dash, and Lorian Price who captured the 100 meter hurdle title. The group will be competing toward the Outdoor National Championships June 8-11 in Sacramento, Calif. at the Alex G. Spanos Sports Complex. \nThis is the third year of existence for the Regional, after Louisiana State University captured the championship last year in Baton Rouge, La. and Auburn University winning the initial MidEast Regional in 2003.\nThe nine Hoosier participants will compete in nine events including the 4 X 400 meter relay which consists of junior LaDonna Ray, sophomore Michele Huber, senior Charlene Maddox, and Clausing. Although there are several other great competitors from many schools, IU coach Randy Heisler expects his athletes to perform at their best.\n"You've got National Champion Indoor (track and field) team in Tennessee, with Arkansas, and LSU also competing," Heisler said. "My expectation is for every kid on our team to win a national championship and if they don't understand that, they should do something else."\nThis is the first time IU will host the regional meet and junior Larra Overton thinks it will benefit them because of the familiarity of the environment, she said.\n"The mindset is going to be a little different because we are hosting the regional meet," Overton said. "It would be a little more intimidating to go out to someone else's track. Having the home crowd advantage will give us a little extra push."\nCoach Heisler also agrees that hosting the meet at home will benefit his team. \n"It's advantageous for us to be hosting a regional because we are so comfortable and confident on our track," said Heisler.\nThe top five individuals from each event and top three relay teams will qualify for the NCAA National Championship. The goal of regionals is to try to earn a spot in Sacramento. Every participant has one thing in mind, performing at their peak.\n"It's about seeing how fast you can run," Overton said. "We are going to put everything we have into this"