The K-State track and field team opens its indoor season today. Over the course of the weekend, the Wildcats will play host to two meets.
Coach Cliff Rovelto said there are scheduled to be more than 400 competitors combined at the meets.
“In general, it’s a low-key meet,” Rovelto said of the team’s first action, the Carol Robinson Winter Pentathlon. “We’ve done virtually no competition work in practice.”
The Wildcats are young, he said. Some of the members are competing in events they previously have not competed in.
“I think eventually we’ll be very good, but right now we’re just young kids,” Rovelto said. “It’s going to take awhile.”
The team has few upperclassmen and many newcomers, who have adapted well, he said. He said he hopes the few seniors will relay the competition experience to new members.
“Beverly Ramos, for example, has had a lot of success at the national level, and she’s been around a few years, so she can help,” Rovelto said.
He said there are many young athletes on the teams who are not strong enough currently to be major contributers.
However, Rovelto said he feels they will do fine.
“They’ve got ability, but we’ll just have to see as it gets into the season,” Rovelto said.
Boglarka Bozzay returns this year for the women’s team. In the 2009 indoor season, she placed third for the 800-meter in the Big 12 Conference Championship.
Cole Zenisek returns for the men’s team as a thrower. At the Big 12 Championship for the 2009 indoor season, he placed eighth in the weight throw.
The pentathlon is scheduled to begin at 10 a.m. today. The Wildcats’ second event, the K-State All-Corners meet, is scheduled to begin at 11 a.m. on Saturday. Both meets will take place at Ahearn Gymnasium.