For the indoor track and field season’s final meet prior to the Big Ten Championships, the men’s track and field will once again be on split and on the road. The Illini will be competing at the Spire Division 1 Invitational in Geneva, Ohio, and the FloTrak Husky Classic in Seattle, Wash., as most of the team looks to improve upon its prospects in order to qualify for the NCAA meet in four weeks.

“I reminded the guys earlier about the importance of staying on course and to remember all the little things we done that have put us where we are now,” head coach Mike Turk said. “We have had so many good team and individual performances this indoor season, that our expectations have risen considerably. It is our focus to match those expectations in order to prepare ourselves for the conference and national meets.”

In Seattle, Illinois record holder Graham Morris will be back on the track looking to cement his status for a spot in the nationals. Morris will compete in the 3,000-meter race, as opposed to his normal event in the mile. Other runners slated to compete will be Big Ten point scorers Ryan Lynn, Hunter Mickow and Luke Carroll, along with newcomer Jim Riddle — who will make his season debut. Lynn is scheduled to run in his second 800m race of the season following his title in the event at the IU Relays. Riddle will open his season this weekend in the 5,000m as the senior looks to improve his personal best time of 14:03.16. Mickow will join Riddle in the 5K race as Carroll will run the mile for the second consecutive week.

“This is another key meet for the distance guys,” said Turk. “We have a couple guys looking to improve upon their recent times and making that final push to qualify for the nationals. We are really looking to see how Graham Morris responds in the 3,000 and whether we can run him in that event for the Big Tens.”

In Ohio, all the sprinters will compete in one event in preparation for the single events they will run at the Big Ten Championships. Stephon Pamilton will compete once again in the 400-meter dash — the event in which he set a personal record with a time of 47.20 that ranks third best in the Big Ten. Also slated to run alongside Pamilton will be freshman Juan Paul Green. In the 200-meter dash Brandon Stryganek and Julian Smith will look to put in solid performances to improve their stock to qualify for a spot in the nationals. Other notable sprinters competing at the Spire Invitational will be Vanier Joseph and Cam Viney in the 60-meter hurdles and Malcolm Taylor in the 600-meter.

“My main focus this weekend is to maintain my form and to start out strong in the first 25 meters,” Pamilton said. “My biggest motivation to continue my growth is the thought of doing all that I can to help this team win a conference title.”

Dan can be reached at [email protected].