The Chadron State track team has its first competition of the new year this weekend, with most of the 55 squad members taking part in the 23rd annual Air Force Academy Indoor and a few going to Spearfish for the the Dave Little Invitational.

The Air Force meet actually began Thursday with the women’s pentathlon and the first day of the 2-day men’s heptathlon, which wrapped up Friday morning.  Competition in other individual events and relays is scheduled for both Friday and Saturday.

CSC head coach Ryan Baily says the Eagles have worked hard to get into condition since the second semester began on Jan. 7, important since there’ll be lots of competition at the Air Force meet.

All the Colorado Division I teams—Colorado, Colorado State and Northern Colorado—are taking part along with Wyoming and several Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference teams, including perennial power Adams State.

The Eagles have not competed since the Black Hills State Holiday Meet December 8, when they won 15 events and sprinter Alex Graham automatically qualified for Division II National Indoor Meet by winning the 60 meters in 6.75 seconds.

Five other Eagles provisionally qualified for the national meet, with one of them…freshman Skyler Hoopes of Lusk…breaking the the CSC men’s pole vault record with a jump of 15-5.