For once, there is an “I” in team for the Illini, as men’s track and field interim head coach Mike Turk is looking for his athletes to think about themselves and not the team this weekend at the Meyo Invitational in South Bend, Ind.

“The Meyo Invitational meet is a chance for guys to show where they’re at with their training and to take their individual performances up to a new level,” Turk said. “Before, it was about the team, not about themselves, but by telling them to think about just their needs, the team will get better overall as a whole.”

The Meyo Invitational is not a team-scored meet, and it would do no good to try to win anything other than individual titles.

“I haven’t been pushed yet, and I really want to know how I stack up against the top guys in the country,” freshman Boyea Lockett said. “I’m still going for points, but I’m not worrying about anyone but myself this meet.”

The next few weeks leading up to the Big Ten Championships will be a time for Turk and his coaching staff to evaluate who will run in Minnesota at the big meet.

The first weekend in February is traditionally a start of tougher competition for the Illini. Between now and the Big Ten Championships, the Orange and Blue will run in meets with fast tracks, such as Notre Dame this weekend, and Iowa St. and Arkansas, which will host the NCAA Indoor Championships this year.

“We’re going to have guns-a-blazing,” Turk said. “I told the team that there’s two guys who know where they can go, (All-Americans) Greg Shroka and Andrew Riley, but it is time for everyone to step up and make their contributions and fulfill their roles. It’s not the Greg and Andrew show.“

Because the Illini are limited to a 32-person travel squad by Big Ten rules, not everyone will compete in South Bend.

For better or for worse, the injury bug that has recently hit the team will help dictate who competes this weekend.

Senior Casey Fonnesbeck is done for the year, and senior Azeez Shogbuyi fractured his patella and is doubtful for the Big Ten Championships. In addition, junior Cody Wisslead has mono, and freshman Steve Monte will not compete either. Shroka, who struggled with injuries throughout last season, is taking the meet off to prevent injuries.

“I do prehab, instead of rehab, in order to prevent injuries like the ones I had last year,” said Shroka, who set a new personal record last week, a feat he could not do until late in the outdoor season last year. “It’s a good feeling to not be injured, having the shins feel good and (have a personal best) so early in the season.”

The Meyo Invitational will take place on both Friday and Saturday. Friday’s events start at 5 p.m. with the long jump, and the meet will resume on Saturday at 9 a.m. with the men’s 3000-meter run.

“We are tired of winning,” Turk said. “As weird as it sounds, our guys are ready to compete at a higher level and they have shown they can. We have sacrificed some meet performances in order to progress, and now it’s time to accept the challenge and step up.”