The SIUC men’s track and field team hopes to play the role of Buster Douglas this weekend at the Tyson Invitational.

The underdog men’s team will travel to Fayetteville, Ark., to compete in the highly competitive meet, while the women’s team will battle conference foes at Indiana State University.

The men’s team is preparing to compete in its second straight difficult meet following last weekend’s unscored Sea Ray Invitational in Knoxville, Tenn.

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The men will battle the Southeastern Conference’s University of Arkansas, University of Auburn and the Big Eight’s University of Missouri, University of Kansas, Kansas State University, Iowa State University and Oklahoma State University. There is expected to be 584 competitors at the meet.

Men’s coach Bill Cornell said the team is hoping to compete with full strength and nice weather.

I understand there’s about 20 teams down there this year, Cornell said. We hope to take the whole team down there, and we’re just praying for good weather.

The women’s track and field team will battle conference rivals Indiana State University, Illinois State University and Bradley University at the Indiana State Invitational Saturday.

Women’s coach Don DeNoon expects conference favorite Indiana State to take the meet, but he wants to challenge the rest of the field.

I just don’t see us beating Indiana State, DeNoon said. They’re really competing well, but as far as the other schools go, it is pretty much a toss-up.

The women’s team is looking forward to having the whole team competing together after last weekend’s split squad. A few members participated at the Sea Ray Invitational while the rest of the team competed at Edwardsville.

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It’s just going to be a solid track and field meet, DeNoon said. This may be the first time in the outdoor season some of our runners will be able to run their events.

The men’s track and field team will compete at the Tyson Invite this weekend. The women’s team will compete at Indiana State University.