AUSTIN, Texas -- LSU's track and field team will be traveling to the heart of Texas to compete in the 79th annual Clyde Littlefield Texas Relays being held this weekend at UT's Mike A. Myers Stadium.
Competition begins today with the men's decathlon and women's heptathlon. The four-day meet will conclude on Saturday with the men's and women's 4x400-meter relay.
Along the way LSU will try to weather some of the best competition in the nation. Seven of the top-ten men's teams and five of the top-ten women's teams in the nation will be in attendance.
"I think we're really prepared," said LSU head coach Dennis Shaver. "It's a different kind of a track meet and it will be very competitive. I'm looking forward to going and seeing how the sprint relays can match up against the best teams in the country, because they'll be there."
LSU's women's 4x400-meter team will put its season long undefeated streak on the line as it takes to the field against last year's national champion, Texas. The field will feature four teams from last year's championship final.
The men's 4x400-meter team will race against almost the same field from last year's national championship final during which they set a collegiate record. LSU will toe the line against a field including the All-American relay teams of Arizona State, Baylor, Florida, and Texas Tech.
The indoor school record holding distance medley relay team will also be in competition. The combination of Michael Hendry, Austin Benton, Jeffrey Parker, Patrick Gavin and Isa Phillips will be chasing the outdoor school record; a mark that has stood for 25 years.
"It's going to be a real challenge for us," said Shaver. "But what it's going to give us is an opportunity to do some simulations compared to the championship meet."
Both the men and women's squads will be looking to add to their list of regional qualifiers during this competitive meet. LSU has already qualified 23 individuals and four relay teams for the NCAA Mideast Regional Meet.
LSU will be on the road once again next week as it travels to Coral Gables, Fla., for the Gatorade Classic. The one-day meet will be held at Cobb Stadium on the campus of the University of Miami.