Sports

Burrell readies for C-USA

By Samica Knight
The Daily Cougar

 The UH Cougar track teams have had an impressive indoor season so far, but the runners will have their work cut out for them when they host the Houston Indoor Invitational on Saturday.

 The Lady Cougars will line up against stiff competition such as Rice and Southwest Texas State and the men will take their marks against Texas. 

 "This weekends meet will be a good competition for us," UH track and field head coach said. "It will allow us to take measurements of ourselves against Rice, SWT and UT."

 Although the competition will be fierce for the Lady Cougars, the Conference USA Champions Burrell expects the ladies to team-up and out-run the competition.
 "We really stress the team concept in this program," Burrell said, " We want the women to be more cohesive, and we need the C-USA champions to lead the way."
 Despite a few minor injuries and illnesses on the menis side, they are expected to run an outstanding meet this weekend, proving that last-seasons young team has almost matured completely.

 "When I look at the men I see one cohesive unit because these guys turn it on and really step it up," Burrell said. "They are really a young group, but boy are they competitors."

 The Lady Cougars have had some outstanding performances by some individuals.
 Junior Shayla Bowman has thrown her way into a sensational season so far.
 Freshman Ebony Floyd and Senior Lauren Smith have both sprinted to victories this season.

 As far as the men are concerned, there have been a number of stand-outs this season.

 Senior Fred Day, Sophomores Andrew Carruthers, Milton Manson and Stanford Routt have all leaped hurdles to indoor season wins.

 "We are doing some good things we just need to continue doing them," Burrell said.

 This weekendis meet, like most of the others, is preparation for the C-USA meet (at home, Feb. 28-March 1).

 The outcome of the meets preceding C-USA will help determine who will go to league championships and how the runners will be lined-up against the competition.
 "We will take a total of 24 runners," Burrell said. "In essence, this weekendis meet decides who will compete at C-USA," 

 Burrellis expectations are high as far as C-USA goes.

 "I expect to win and bring home a big trophy," he said.

 The meet is the fourth consecutive meet at the Yeoman Field House in the Athletics/Alumni Center. The next event at home will be the UH All-Comers Meet on Feb. 15.

 Send comments to dcsports@mail.uh.edu