EVANSVILLE, Ind. – The University of Southern Indiana women's track and field team begins the indoor portion of their spring season at the Gladstein Invitational Friday and Saturday at Indiana University in Bloomington, Indiana.

Head Coach Mike Hillyard will rely on a strong group of distance performers that includes junior Jackie Henderson. Hillyard feels that his team has a solid supporting cast in some other events—the distance medley relay, pentathlon, sprint relays, and throws—that could lead to a top four finish in the Great Lakes Valley Conference.

With a limited number of opportunities for the Eagles to earn qualifying times for the NCAA II Indoor Championships, there is a strong sense of urgency for the Eagles to keep training at a high level.

“The kids know they need to be diligent with aid recovery; getting enough sleep, proper dieting, hydration, and training,” stated Hillyard.

Henderson earned second-team All-GLVC honors for her third-place finish in the 3,000 meters and fourth-place finish in the 5,000 meters at the GLVC Indoor Championships last season. She also was a first-team All-GLVC performer for her first-place finish in the 3,000 meters at the GLVC Outdoor Championships last May.

This past December, Henderson earned her first All-America honor in cross country with a 40th-place finish at 2010 NCAA II National Championships in Louisville, Kentucky.

USI has three meets following this weekend's competition at Indiana University. The Indiana Relays on January 28-29, along with the Hoosier Invitational on February 5, also will be run in Bloomington. The Grand Valley State University Big Meet February 11-12 in Allendale, Michigan, will be the final tune-up for the Eagles prior to the conference championships.

The GLVC Indoor Championships are February 25-26 in Somers, Wisconsin, while the NCAA II Indoor Championships are March 11-12 in Albuquerque, New Mexico.