THIBODAUX - The Nicholls State University women's track and field program will look to build on one of the most successful seasons in school history when the Colonels open the 2010-11 season with a trip to the ASU Kickoff Klassic hosted by Arkansas State University in Jonesboro, Ark. on Saturday.

It marks the second consecutive season that the Colonels open the season at the Red Wolves' annual early season meet.  Last season's trip to the Convocation Center in Jonesboro saw the Colonels set three school records in the first meet of an indoor season that saw the Colonels go on to tie the program's best ever finish at the 2010 Southland Conference Indoor Championships.

The Colonels are led by a group of mid and long distance runners who will look to maintain momentum from a successful cross country campaign this past fall.  Led by seniors Lauren Jones, Kadi Whisnant and Jessica McLeod, the Colonels tied their best ever finish at the Southland Conference Cross Country Championships in October.

Saturday's meet will also mark the 2010-11 debut of the Colonels power runners.  Nicholls is led by junior sprinter Samantha Calhoun, who turned in a breakthrough season in 2009-10.  Calhoun set new school records in the 60 m and 200 m dash last season, and narrowly missed All-Southland Conference honors with a fifth-place finish at the Southland Conference Indoor Championships.

After Saturday's trip to Arkansas State, the Colonels will not return to action until Dec. 14th when the Colonels head to the University of Houston for the Leonard Hilton Memorial.  The Colonels will return to Houston again on Dec. 28-29 for the Houston Indoor Invitational before competing at the Jeff Davis Bank Intercollegiate hosted by McNeese State on Feb. 4 and the LSU Twilight on Feb. 19.  The Colonels will conclude the indoor season with a trip to Norman, Okla. for the 2011 Southland Conference Indoor Championshsips.