LAKE CHARLES, La. -- Following a three-week hiatus away from competition, the Nicholls State University track & field program shifts focus to the team's next major test of the young season: the McNeese Indoor Invite, set for Friday, Jan. 31 at the Ralph O. Ward Recreation Complex in Lake Charles, La.

Entering the meet, head coach Stefanie Slekis remains enthusiastic about her student-athletes returning to competition form as the all-important Samford Open approaches later in mid-February, hosted in the same venue -- the Birmingham CrossPlex -- the Southland Conference utilizes for its indoor championships in early March.

"I am excited for our men's and women's teams to be back in action this Friday at McNeese," Slekis said. "It is always great to go and compete at a fellow Southland Conference school and, after the progress we have seen in team training the past three weeks, I am really looking forward to what each of our student-athletes can do in their respective events. This meet will get everyone back in competition mode after such a big training block so that we are rounding into great form for our trip to Birmingham in two weeks where we will really look to see our teams put up some big personal bests and marks that will rank us well in the Southland Conference."

WHAT: The McNeese Indoor Invite
WHEN: Friday, Jan. 31 | All Day
WHERE: Ralph O. Ward Recreation Complex | Lake Charles, La.
MEDIA: Meet Info

McNEESE INDOOR INVITE PARTICIPANTS
McNeese (host)
Nicholls
Arkansas Baptist
LeTourneau
New Orleans
Loyola-New Orleans
Southeastern Louisiana
Talladega College
Louisiana-Lafayette
Wiley

COMPLETE PROGRAM BREAKDOWN
Schedule | Men's Roster | Women's Roster

UP NEXT
The Colonels will take a two-week break before trekking east to Birmingham, Ala. for the Samford Open, scheduled across Friday, Feb. 14 and Saturday, Feb. 15 at the Birmingham CrossPlex.

STAY SOCIAL
For more information on Colonels Track & Field/Cross Country, follow the team on Twitter (@Nicholls_XCTF), Instagram (@geauxcolonels) and like their Facebook page (Nicholls Athletics).