The Stanford track and field team will be competing at the Triton Invitational this Saturday in La Jolla, Calif. After a string of spectacular performances, the team took a quick breather last week by sending out only four competitors: sophomore Lauren Stewart to UCLA, and three competitors to the Mt. SAC relays in Walnut Creek, Calif.

Enlarge
#gallery http://daily.stanford.org/image/full/7299
Bernard Bluhm

Senior Michael Robertson figures to enjoy the traditionally windy weather conditions at the Triton Invitational, which have proved particularly beneficial to throwers in the discus event in the past.

This weekend, 56 competitors will be traveling to La Jolla to represent Stanford in what senior Feranmi Okanlami anticipates will be a “fun meet” — the team plans to relax on this trip. Generally, the team gets to the meet as close to its start as possible, but this weekend, things will be different.

The team will arrive in San Diego on Thursday night, but will have Friday at its leisure after working out in the morning. On Saturday, the team will compete at the Triton Invitational, getting prepared for the upcoming Pacific-10 Conference Championships.

All potential Cardinal competitors for the Pac-10 will be going to this weekend’s Triton Invitational. However, the expectations the team carries will be different, as some team members will be competing in events outside of their comfort zone.

For example, Okanlami will be competing in the high jump, although he is best known for his excellent performances in the triple jump. Several other members of the Stanford squad will also switch around to new events, giving the team members a chance to get a taste of different types of competition. Many of the competitors who were expected to hit the NCAA Regional-qualifying mark this season have already achieved their marks, but others still need to work at it and will do so this weekend.

“[The players who have not hit the mark] will try to take care of business,” head coach Edrick Floreal said.

Floreal stressed that even though it will be a more laid-back weekend of competition, the team will still be serious about putting forth its best efforts.

Among those putting forth excellent performances is junior Arianna Lambie, who last took first in the 1500 meter and third in the 3000 during the Big Meet against California. Team captain Okanlami heaped praise on Lambie for her example.

“Arianna has been a great leader for the women’s team,” he said. “She performs excellently in practice, she has great leadership skills and she never ceases to amaze me.”

The team will return from the Triton Invitational on Sunday. After this weekend, the Cardinal will compete in several smaller meets, including the California Collegiate Challenge in Berkeley, Calif., the Payton Jordan Cardinal Invitational, and the Sacramento Invitational before competing on its home track in the Pac-10 tournament.

“We are coming together as a team,” Floreal said, “and getting ready for the Pac-10.”