The Daily Campus

Issue date: 4/11/08 Section: Sports

Media Credit: Adam Bickford The men's track team will split and travel to Florida and Brown University this weekend.

The men's and women's track teams have gotten off to blazing starts this spring. The men went down to Baton Rouge and went stride-for-stride with an LSU team that has a host of All-Americans on their roster. The women dominated the UConn Alumni Invitational last weekend. Both teams will be in action again this weekend and will make an effort to continue building toward a Big East championship.

The men will be dividing their squad between two venues this weekend. Eight members of the team will be traveling to Florida for the Miami Elite Invitational and the rest of the team will be in Providence competing in the Brown Invitational.

Head coach Greg Roy is excited to see senior Basil Campbell compete in the 200-meter dash for the first time this season. He also anticipates seeing strong showings from Mike Rutt and Brian Gagnon who will be making their season debut in the 800-meter run as well.

"We are finishing a cycle of hard training in anticipation of seeing better weather and competition leading up to the Big East [Championships] in three weeks," Roy said.

Rutt and Gagnon will have no shortage of competition. The Hurricanes boast reigning ACC track athlete of the week, Tim Harris who will be running the 800.

"I'm excited to face some amazing competition, it motivates me to run my best times," Rutt said. Gagnon went on to say that "this is our first chance to get out in some great weather and really get a chance to compete at the highest level."

Sophomore Tyrone Favery shined in the triple jump and high jump last weekend at the Huskies' home meet, and he will get a chance to duplicate that performance down in Miami. Reigning Big East shot put champion Andrew Dubs will also make the trip to Miami and will be looking to make his mark in the throwing events.

The Huskies plan on using this meet as a springboard into the Big East championships.

"We are getting used to being challenged by the best and that really gives us a competitive edge," Rutt said.

"[Taking on some of the best in the country is] becoming an everyday thing for us," Gagnon said.

"When the Big East comes around, we will be ready to roll."

Continued...

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