LAKE CHARLES – Following a nearly six-week break from competition, the Southeastern Louisiana men's and women's track and field teams return to action Friday at the McNeese State Indoor Invite. The meet gives student-athletes a chance to participate before the spring semester begins next Tuesday.

While this is the first meet of the calendar year, the Lions technically started the 2010 indoor season on Dec. 5, 2009, with the Arkansas State Kickoff Classic. Southeastern only brought around half of its roster, but still managed to set 15 personal bests. 

“We're knocking the dust off,” head coach Sean Brady said. “We had 15 guys and eight girls who stayed back in Hammond the whole break. I know what they're ready to do. The ones that went home, I don't know what we'll see from them. Those that didn't do their work over the break, we'll see that very quickly.”

The Arkansas State meet was capped by the Southeastern men's 4x400 meter relay team running a school record time (3:16.63) to win the event. George Cunningham ran the first leg, followed by Shannon Grover, Adlus Wiltz and Jerel Butler as the anchor. That same foursome won't have a chance to set another mark this time, as they'll be broken up into three different teams.

“Philosophically, we don't believe we need to run fast every weekend,” Brady said. “We don't want them peaking in mid-January. We want to see them peak at the (Southland Conference) championship in late February.”

Teams were not scored in Jonesboro, so this will be the Lions' first chance to see how they stack up against other squads. Southeastern will face off with South Alabama, Grambling State, Sam Houston State and host McNeese State.

The meet will be held at the McNeese State Indoor Recreation Complex, which is located on the main campus off Common Street. Weight events begin at 1 p.m., followed by the field events at 3 p.m. and running events at 5 p.m. Get a complete schedule here.