North Carolina State University Athletics
NC State Ready For Weekend Competitions
2/12/2015 12:00:00 AM | Track
RALIEGH, N.C. - This weekend’s meets will feature tough competition in a variety of locations for the NC State track and field team. For many Wolfpack student-athletes, this will be the final meet before ACC Indoor Championships.
The Pack will split up to compete in meets across the country. Groups will be in Geneva, Ohio, Albuquerque, N.M., and New York, N.Y., over the course of the weekend.
While ACC qualifying marks are still on the table, much of the team is looking to make final preparations for the conference championships and push for national qualifying marks.
SPIRE Invitational
A large portion of the team including distance, mid-distance, throwers and long sprinters will travel to Geneva, Ohio, for the SPIRE Invitational, featuring a number of top-25 teams. The SPIRE Institute, who hosts the event, has the nation’s largest track and field center.
The track’s design will offer the long sprinters and the 800m runners a suitable environment to earn high marks.
Don Kirby Open and Elite
The short sprinters and jumpers are headed to Albuquerque, N.M. for the Don Kirby Open and Elite. After several of the nation’s top qualifying marks came from the meet last year, NC State is looking to capitalize.
Jonathan Addison and Alexis Perry already have quality marks, but the meet will give the duo and the rest of the jumpers and short sprinters favorable conditions to earn stronger marks.
NYRR Millrose Games
Graham Crawford and Jacob Thomson have been invited to the 108th running of the NYRR Millrose Games. The competition invites the nation’s top athletes to compete at The Armory in New York.
In a similar fashion to the Camel City Elite Races, both will run in the 3,000m against the best collegiate competition in the country, as well as professional athletes.
Crawford and Thompson will attempt to set qualifying marks for nationals.
Geiger’s Expectations:
On SPIRE Invitational:
“It is an incredible facility and an opportunity to face BIG 10 competition. I think it gives us a different look in terms of competition and it may be the best facility in the country.”
On Don Kirby Open and Elite:
“As a coach, if you see the Don Kirby Open and Elite meet where a number of national qualifying marks are coming from, you want to send them there to put the athletes in the best position to qualify for the national championships. “
On Millrose Games:
“We had Jacob Thomson and Graham Crawford get invited to the NYRR Millrose Games in New York. It was not on the board, but they got the invitation. It is a very prestigious track and field meet.”
Last Time Out
In the Virginia Tech Elite Meet, NC State recorded some of the best marks of the season. Megan Rempel and Paisley Simmons earned ACC qualifying marks while some student-athletes took the next step and posted high-level marks against quality competition.
Addison set a lifetime best mark in the long jump while Nicole Chavis threw a foot farther than her previous season best in the weight throw.
