The Kansas track and field teams will compete in the New Balance Invitational this weekend at the Armory Track and Field Center in New York City.

This invitational has become the biggest and best college indoor track and field meet of the season. The competition is in its 11th year and is hosting 17 of the top 25 ranked teams on both sides of the men’s and women’s events.

This is the first meet of the year where the Jayhawks will compete against nationally ranked opponents. For many of the Kansas teams’ top athletes, they will face the same opponents whom they will later encounter during the Big 12 and National Championship meets.

“We’re very excited to go to New York this weekend and to have the opportunity to compete against the nation’s best,” coach Stanley Redwine said. “This meet will get competition from all over the country, and we’re looking forward to competing against them to see where we are as a team.”

For sophomore sprinter Diamond Dixon, the 200-meter dash will be an important event this weekend. She hopes to become a regular in the 200-meter, but but this will only be the her third time running the 200-meter during her college career.

“Who knows how many more opportunity’s I’ll have to run the 200, so I want to use this opportunity to do the best I can.” Dixon said. “I think the competition is pretty fierce, but I feel like I should do well.”

The women’s team is currently ranked No. 1 in the Midwest region after strong performances early in the season. The men’s team has fallen to No. 10 in the Midwest, and will look to improve on what they’ve accomplished so far.

“Tough competition brings out the best and the worst in you,” Redwine said. “And in order to do well at the meets toward the end of the year, we have to be able to handle the pressure of having really good athletes going up against us. This meet will give us a good head-start to seeing how we can handle that pressure.”

Kuathletics.com is running a live video of the New Balance Invitational starting today at 10:30am on the track and field page for anyone to watch.