Jan. 24, 2013

BEAUMONT - The Lamar track teams will look to build off a strong start to their indoor season as they hit the road for nearby Houston to compete at the Howie Ryan Invitational on the campus of the University of Houston.

"We're now about halfway through our indoor season, so obviously we're planning on getting out there and competing," head coach Trey Clark explained. "We're about a month out from the conference championships, and with almost a full squad running this weekend, this will give us the opportunity to make the necessary adjustments in training to get more prepared."

The event also offers the chance to introduce a number of the athletes to a more structured two-day competition.

"This is really a nice chance for us to challenge the athletes physically," Clark said. "We're giving them the chance to run on two different days, and it will be more like the conference championships with the prelims and the finals."

The event could also serve as a Southland preview because fellow members McNeese State, Northwestern State, Sam Houston State and Stephen F. Austin will also field teams in the event. Houston, Prairie View, Texas State, UTSA, Rice, UTPA, Houston Baptist, Louisiana Tech, UTPA, Grambling, North Texas, SMU, Texas Southern and Southern will round out the competition.

The event is set to begin at noon at Yeoman Fieldhouse on Friday before wrapping up on Saturday evening.

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