The University of Minnesota Duluth men’s and women’s track and field squads will continue the 2005 indoor season this weekend participating at various meets. Action will begin today in Eau Claire, Wis., where UMD senior captain Josh Dark (Wausau, Wis.) will compete for a provisional national qualifying mark in the weight throw at the 2005 Blugold Open. Among conference rivals, Dark will be trying to best a toss of 54 feet, 8 inches by Dan Tolsma from the University of South Dakota who currently resides at the pole position of the NCC Weight Throw Honor Roll.

UMD All-American Heather Hamilton (St. Paul, Minn.) will make her first appearance of the 2005 indoor season this weekend as well, competing at the 2005 Gold Country Classic on the University of Minnesota campus Saturday. Hamilton will be running for a national qualifying mark in the 800-meter run against four Minnesota student-athletes, three from the University of Iowa and one from Marquette University. Hamilton’s qualifying time of 2:12.93 is the best of anyone in her heat. The meet record is 2:07.70, set by Iowa State University’s Edith Nakiyingi. The automatic national qualifying mark for Hamilton would be 2:10.

Senior Andrea Vake (Hibbing, Minn.) will also be in action for the Bulldogs at the Gold Country Classic, running in the 400-meter dash. Her sights will be set on an automatic national qualifying mark of 55.30. Fellow Bulldog senior Erin Foss (Plato, Minn.) will also be competing at the Gold Country Classic, running in the 3,000-meter run.

In Bemidji, Minn., at the BSU Super 8 Open, UMD junior Jason Sydejko (Blaine, Minn.) will be competing in the high jump and looking to improve on his opening provisional mark of 6-foot, 8 1/4, set last week. The automatic national qualifying mark in Sydejko’s sights is 7 feet, 1 inch.