The NCAA Mideast Regional for Western’s track and field team is May 29-30 in Louisville, Ky., and many qualifiers for the Toppers have split-squad meets to thank for competing at the regional level.

Although the absolute best athletes perform well anywhere, anytime, players and coaches alike agree that some advantage lies within facing stout competition in an event-specific environment.

Track and field coach Erik Jenkins said last week that his team would show off a balanced attack at the WKU Invitational.

It did just that Saturday by sweeping the women’s relays, men’s throwing events and recording victories in sprinting, jumping and field competitions.

Western’s track and field team breaks its home meet-less streak Saturday, hosting the WKU Invitational at the Charles M. Ruter Complex after weather caused cancellation of the Hilltopper Relays three weeks ago.

The meet will be the first Western has hosted since the National City Relays two years and 364 days to April 25.

Western’s men’s and women’s track teams visited the site of their NCAA Mideast Regional meet last weekend in Louisville, and Kentucky native freshman Sharika Smith set a winning tone to highlight her debut outdoor season with the Lady Toppers.