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South Bend beckons Wolverine speedsters

This weekend features another matchup of Michigan against the vaunted Fighting Irish.

Yet this matchup is not on the gridiron: it's the men's track team's second meet of the indoor season in South Bend. The Meyo Invitational features Michigan and Big Ten rivals Purdue, Michigan State and Minnesota.

"Wisconsin looks like the team to beat in the Big Ten this year," freshman Dan Filstrup said.

In addition to adjusting to the competition, Michigan runners will have to acclimate themselves to the unusually large Notre Dame track. The South Bend track extends 375 meters -- quite a change from the normal 200-meter tracks.

This oddity makes for longer straight-aways, and better times for the runners. Michigan runners will also change their racing strategies.

"When I usually run a 400-meter, I can't afford to wait until the last straight away to make my sprint," Filstrup said. "But on a longer track, I can use my `kick' on the final straight away."

Michigan coach Jack Harvey voiced some of the team goals for this relatively unimportant meet.

"Since this meet is a non-scoring meet, we're just going down there to get some good times," Harvey said.

The Meyo Invitational is strange for another reason: The races will not be held under the blazing Indiana sun. Michigan, like all teams in the Big Ten, holds this part of its schedule indoors.

Michigan begins its indoor training in January and does not venture outside until the end of March. The Wolverines already have three meets under their belts.

Indoor tracks have more dramatic turns which make for different racing techniques. Runners, when outdoors, can take the more gradual turns at higher speeds.

So Michigan runners are gearing themselves up for the differences and heading towards a very successful indoor season.