The ASU track and field team will participate in its second outdoor meet of the season when it hosts the Clif Bar Invitational at Sun Angel Stadium this weekend.
The Sun Devils will compete against one of the biggest and best fields they have faced all season, including conference rivals Oregon and Washington.
"It's a great opportunity for [our athletes] to compete against some outstanding teams," coach Greg Kraft said. "They're all very good, strong, balanced programs."
With 12 athletes already recording a total of 15 marks that qualify for the regional meet during the Baldy Castillo Invitational last weekend, the team's main goal this weekend is to add even more qualifiers.
"The first goal for everybody is just to get the regional qualifier," Kraft said. "Last week, particularly in the throwing events, it was a positive step in that regard."
Athletes already qualified for regionals include junior Kelvin Love Jr. (100m dash and 200m dash), senior Domenik Peterson (200m dash), senior Aaron Aguayo (1500m run), freshman Jason Lewis (hammer throw), senior Andrew Smith (javelin), junior Brad Roth (javelin), junior Matt Turner (high jump), senior Latosha Wallace (400m dash), sophomore Shauntel Elcock (400m dash), junior Tai Battle (hammer throw, shot put, discus), senior Becky Holley (javelin) and junior April Kubishta (pole vault).
Another goal ASU has set for the meet is to get the athletes who competed in the NCAA Indoor Championships back in action after most of them sat out last weekend's meet.
"Now with the regional qualifying, with the month of May being so big, you have two sets of agenda," Kraft said. "One, you're bringing your NCAA indoor people back into the competitive fold, but the people who weren't at the NCAA meet have to get the regional marks and they have to stake a claim for our Pac-10 roster.
"There's a lot at stake for a number of our student athletes."
Kraft added the main thing he wants to see the ASU athletes do is continue to show improvement.
"I expect to run and win the 400 hurdles, if not qualify for regionals," Wallace said. "I expect the 4x400 to qualify for regionals. The throws are going to be outstanding, the jumps are going to be hot. I expect to just have fun and do well."
The meet begins Friday at 5 p.m. with the hammer throw, while the rest of the events will take place on Saturday starting at 10:30 a.m.
Reach the reporter at: gina.mizell@asu.edu.
