After compiling 15 event victories last weekend, ASU’s track and field team will head back to the thin air of the high country for the Mountain ‘T’ Multi-Events and Invitational.

The field for this weekend’s meet comprises of athletes from Concordia, Cal State Bakersfield, Cal State Fullerton, Cal State Dominguez Hills, Florida Atlantic, Long Beach State, Mesa CC, Northern Arizona, San Diego State, UNLV and other unattached teams.

ASU has the luxury of having two of its first away meets reasonably close.

“We’re fortunate during the indoor season that we can go to Flagstaff ... and get some repetition where it doesn’t cost us an arm and a leg budget-wise, and the kids get a fair shot to assess their fitness levels,” track and field director Greg Kraft said.

ASU is only sending 24 of their men and 15 women, as well as three men and one woman who will compete unattached because they are redshirting this season.

The Sun Devils are looking to reproduce the outcome of last week’s trip to the Walkup Skydome that provisionally qualified three athletes for this year’s NCAA Championships. The list includes junior Jason Lewis, senior Charonda Williams and senior Donald Sanford.

With only one meet in the books, Kraft said he wanted to see how his players would respond to competition and coaching.

Even after a solid performance at last week’s Friday Night Challenge, the women dropped to No. 8 in the polls while the men remained at No. 2. The ranking system is based on points earned for where an athletes’ mark ranks nationally. It is not a reflection of the women’s performing poorly, especially after winning six events last time out.

As always in Flagstaff, ASU will have to battle the effects of the altitude on their bodies.

Senior Joel Phillip, a member of the men’s 4x400 meter relay team, said it doesn’t usually affect him while he is running but he can definitely feel it after a race. Phillips is also battling some tightness in his hamstrings, but said he should be fine by this weekend’s meet.

Reach the reporter at emschimm@asu.edu.