The Irish will kick off their indoor season Friday when they host the Blue & Gold Invitational.
Notre Dame senior pole vaulter and captain ChrissyFinkel said the meet is a good test for the Irish as they come out of months of fall training. She also said the meet is a good starting point for both the men's and women's squads and that it will be used as a measuring stick for where the athletes need to improve, rather than as a meet where they will be looking to be in top form.
"It's definitely more of a measure of where we are after a semester of training," Finkel said. "The majority of the really hard work that we put in happens over the last three or four months once we get into season. [The Blue & Gold Invitational] kind of gives us a really good foundation and basis to judge where we are," she said. "Once you put on that uniform, it's a little different than in practice, so it's different in a meet atmosphere and it's good to see how you do for the first time."
On the women's side, distance will be a strong point. Senior Rebecca Tracy will be looking to carry momentum from a successful spring season. Senior Jeremy Rae will return for the men's side. He will look to repeat a stellar 2011-2012 indoor season when he won the Big East mile.
The men also have talented sprinters in junior Patrick Feeney and sophomore Chris Giesting, who was part of the Indoor National Championship distance medley relay team last year and was named the Big East's Most Outstanding Track Performer. On the women's side, junior sprinter Michelle Brown will look to build on a successful spring season with the Irish.
Junior jumper Logan Renwick will also be a key component for the men after winning the triple jump in the outdoor season.
As for the squad's long-term goals, Finkel said both sides are aiming high.
"We're really hoping to win four Big East Championships - indoors and outdoors for both the men and women," she said. "We had a great season to end on outdoor, the men won the Big East Championships and the women's team came in second. On the women's side, everyone who scored points is returning this year. Because we didn't graduate any points, we're very, very excited. I've never looked forward to a season from a team standpoint as much as I am this year."
The Blue & Gold Invitational begins at 5 p.m. Friday at the Loftus Center.
Contact Laura Coletti at lcoletti@nd.edu
