For the fourth time this year, the Michigan men's track team is meeting its neighbor, Eastern Michigan.
They've been spending so much time together this season some may believe they're "Bosom Buddies" - well, maybe "The Odd Couple."
Tomorrow, the Wolverines travel to Ypsilanti for the second time this year.
This time it's for the EMU Invitational.
Field events begin at 11 a.m., with running events following at 12:30 p.m.
In the last two scored meets between the two, Michigan has ended up on the short end.
Although the teams are probably getting tired of following each other around, Michigan coach Jack Harvey admits that the stiff competition has been healthy.
"In many cases, the competition has had a positive effect," Harvey said.
Tomorrow's meet will be open, which means that competitors will only run against the clock, not each other.
With the meet falling just one week before many schools' conference championships, the field will be mixed.
Some of the competitors will not be decided until the day of the meet. There will be schools from the Mid-American Conference, Big Ten, as well as colleges from Canada and some Division II programs from Michigan.
Because the meet comes just one week before many conference championships, the Division I schools, including Michigan, will most likely have fewer entrants than normal.
Harvey estimates that he will send half to three-quarters of the Wolverines.
Because the MAC Championships are also next weekend, Harvey doubts Eastern will have its full roster competing.
The Wolverines are coming off a second-place finish last weekend at the Central Collegiate Championships. The highlights were few and far between - Michigan only captured two victories.
Junior Don MacLaughlin won the 800 yards, and the distance medley, comprised of MacLaughlin, seniors Scott MacDonald and Neil Gardner along with freshman Jay Cantin finished first.
Their medley time was low enough for a provisional qualifying spot for the NCAA Indoor Championships.
As a whole, the team didn't run well last week, and Harvey thinks that a week of rest is just what some runners need.
"We didn't run that well last week in East Lansing," Harvey said. "I think we're going to rest several of the runners."
One of the decisions still pending involves the status of senior hurdler Neil Gardner, who is nursing a sore groin.
Last week, Gardner had his four-week undefeated streak snapped as he finished second behind Greg Richardson of Central Michigan.
Not all of the runners will be resting at home. Harvey is sending McLaughlin and MacDonald to run the mile.
"That race (mile) should be the best one of the day," Harvey said.
Although this week's meet is filled with scattered entrants from various schools, it is an important week. This week involves a lot of strategy from the coaching staff to decide who to run and who to rest.
"Those that will rest, we'll look for their best performances next week at Big Tens," Harvey said.
JOE WESTRATE/Daily
Scott MacDonald and the rest of the Michigan men's track team is off to face Eastern Michigan this weekend for the fourth meeting between the two teams this season. With the Big Ten championships looming on the horizon for the following week, Michigan coach Jack Harvey will not send a full roster to Ypsilanti.