The SIUC men’s track and field team is using its upcoming meet at the University of Mississippi Saturday as a crystal ball for a preview of what is in store for the remainder of the season.

The Salukis have finally become healthy, a task that burdened them the entire indoor season. But the return of seniors Orlando McKee and Elliot Young, junior Joseph Parks and sophomore Andy Bosak from injury have the Salukis prepared to see how good they can become.

We’re just anxious to see where we’re at, men’s coach Bill Cornell said. We have several people back from injuries, so I just want to see how we do.

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Distance runner Joseph Parks believes the team will have a stronger outdoor season with the return of its injured athletes.

I think we’ll have a better team than what we had indoor because we’ll add depth to each event, which will definitely improve us from the indoor season, Parks said.

This will be the Salukis’ first scored meet of the outdoor season. They competed at the University of Southern Mississippi Saturday in an unscored meet to start the outdoor season.

Battling the Salukis will be Division I competitors University of Mississippi and the University of Arkansas-Little Rock, but a number of junior college teams are also expected to compete.

Cornell said the team is approaching the meet with the notion of what lies ahead for the remainder of the season.

The first meet after spring break is good to be low-key because the rest of the season will be tough meets, Cornell said. It’s good to ease into the season with an easier meet.

Parks said the team is using the meet as training for future meets.

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We’re not trying to have top times this meet. We know we have a tough season ahead of us, Parks said.

Cornell said the meet will be more relaxed than many of the meets that the Salukis will compete in this year.

There’s no real pressure on us this weekend, Cornell said. We just want to go down there for a fun meet. Sometimes that’s when you get your better performances because they’re more relaxed.

The men’s track and field team will compete at the University of Mississippi Saturday in Oxford, Miss.