April 12, 2012

LARAMIE, Wyo. -

Snowball Open Meet Program | Video Preview

For the first time in nearly three years, the University of Wyoming track and field program will host a home outdoor meet in Laramie. The Snowball Open will be UW's only home outdoor event this season and takes place Saturday.

The details
The Snowball Open will be Saturday at the Memorial 8 Track at Louis S. Madrid Sports Complex. Action begins at noon with the field events, and track events get started at 12:30 p.m. Admission to the event is free.

Who will be there?
A regional foe will visit Laramie for the meet as the Bears of Northern Colorado hit the track along with the Cowboys and Cowgirls.

Home meet
The Snowball Open will be the first meet at the Memorial 8 Track since the Mountain West Outdoor Championships in May 2009.

The forecast
As of Thursday morning, Saturday's forecast called for temperatures in the 40s with the possibility for precipitation.

He said it
Wyoming coach Don Yentes, like the UW tracksters, will keep an eye on the sky in the days leading up to the events.

"It depends a little bit on the weather. If it turns out to be decent, I think we'll have kids who will compete and do very well," Yentes said. "If the weather goes back to the way it's been the last three or four years, we'll got into survival mode and we'll just try to get through it without getting hurt. We can't afford any injuries."

Spring forward
One thing that hasn't held back UW this season, however, has been the weather. With temperatures regularly in the 50s and warmer throughout the last few weeks, the Cowboys and Cowgirls have been able to practice outdoors.

"We've had a lot of top-10 performances and we've had a lot of kids who are really close to making some big breakthroughs in the throws, sprints and jumps," Yentes added. "Some of our distance kids have done a really nice job. (This season has) gone well. I would say that we're ahead of the game for the first time in a couple of years mainly because it's been good weather."